Navi Mumbai Metro's Decade-Long Wait To End Soon: Line-1 Likely To Be Launched By Prime Minister Modi On 30 October

After a prolonged wait, the Navi Mumbai Metro is finally set to become operational, as it is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 October, according to reports.

This project, which has faced a 12-year delay, had finally obtained the green light in June 2023 and has been eagerly awaited for its official inauguration ever since.

On 21 June, the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) issued the necessary certificate to CIDCO for operations between Belapur and Central Park station on the stretch the of Navi Mumbai Metro Project (NMMP).

City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) had previously received the CMRS certificate for five stations from Central Park to Pendhar on this stretch, in October 2021.

The entire Line-1 spanning 11.1 km with 11 stations — from Belapur to Pendhar station — has the mandatory permissions to commence commercial operations.

Delays In The Navi Mumbai Metro

The NMMP was initiated in May 2011 by the then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and work began soon thereafter.

However, the project encountered continuous delays due to several factors, including changes in plans, issues with contractors, protests, and difficulties with land acquisition by CIDCO.

These delays resulted in increased costs for the project execution. The Metro Line-1 project's estimated cost is Rs 3,400 crore, out of which CIDCO already infused Rs 2,600 crore.

To expedite the project, CIDCO received a supporting line of credit of Rs 500 crore from ICICI Bank.

Last year on 30 December 2022, the trial run of the metro line was successfully conducted for the corridor spanning 5 km and running across five stations — connecting Pendhar and Central Park, as per earlier reports.

The line is further proposed to link Belapur to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMAI).

Benefits Of This Network

Once operational, the transit network will be a great relief to the residents of the connecting areas, alleviate traffic congestion in busy areas and is expected to elevate the real estate demand.

For residents of Taloja, Ghot, Koyanaville villages, and other surrounding areas, the metro network will provide a rail connection that was earlier lacking and will enable faster commute compared to road transport.

The lack of connectivity options other than buses in these regions had forced many people to rely on private vehicles.

Additionally, the major housing projects in Kharghar are expected to benefit from the Navi Mumbai Metro project — as the upcoming routes will increase housing demand in the locality and elevate the real estate market in the area.

The starting of operations will not only cater to the current residents but also provide opportunities for new residents who have been waiting for this improved connectivity, to move into the area.

Furthermore, the project will bring benefits to Belapur, which is home to many important commercial establishments and serves as the business district of Navi Mumbai.