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The long-planned Metro Line 8, which will connect Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), has taken an important step forward. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted to the state government, and it has already received clearances from the urban
development and finance departments. The project is expected to be placed before the state cabinet for final approval within the next two weeks.
Metro Corridor Costs
According to the DPR, the proposed 34.89 km metro corridor costs around ₹23,000 crore, which will be built using a public-private partnership (PPP) model, similar to Mumbai Metro Line 1 (Versova-Ghatkopar). The City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), which is leading the project, has requested 20% financial support each from the state and central governments; the remaining funds will be invested by a private build-operate-transfer (BOT) partner.
Metro Line Connections
The metro line will have 20 stations, six underground and 14 elevated, which will act as a seamless connector across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), linking with at least six other metro lines, as well as local trains and bus terminals. By 2031, daily ridership is expected to reach over 10 lakh passengers. Moreover, the line will connect to the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), allowing long-distance train passengers to travel directly to either airport.
A senior official stated that this metro line will become the main backbone for passenger and workforce travel once NMIA opens. Cidco also has a peer review of the DPR, covering alignment, traffic flow, environmental impact, land requirements, and finances. An independent agency will review and suggest improvements before final approval. Vijay Singhal, Managing Director of Cidco, stated that they want the plan to be foolproof.
