In a major step forward for urban mobility, Mumbai’s upcoming Metro Line 8, the Gold Line, is set to become the first metro corridor to directly link Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
The Gold Line, about 35 kilometres long, will be the first metro to connect Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Andheri directly to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). It will also help people travel easily between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
The project will be managed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on the Mumbai side and by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) on the Navi Mumbai side.
The metro line will begin at CSMIA Terminal 2 in Andheri, run underground until Chhedanagar in Chembur, and then transition to an elevated track that extends to NMIA.
The Gold Line is planned to operate at a top speed of 90 km/h, making it quicker than other metro services. The total length of the corridor will range between 35 and 40 kilometres, with eight approved stations located at key points such as Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mankhurd, Vashi, Nerul, and Belapur.
The project includes a 9.25-kilometre underground segment and a 25.63-kilometre elevated stretch. With an estimated cost of Rs 15,000 crore, it is tentatively expected to be completed by 2029.
For people traveling to CSMIA from the city, Metro Line 7A connects Andheri East to the airport, with an underground station right at the terminal. There’s also an elevated station at Airport Colony. Line 7A links to Metro Line 7, which is a 16.5-kilometre route running from Dahisar East to Gundavali along the Western Express Highway. Important stops on this line include Dahisar East, Goregaon East, and Gundavali, where it connects with Metro Line 1 (Blue Line) and Metro Line 6 (Pink Line).
Metro Line 9, which runs from Dahisar to Mira-Bhayander, further expands suburban connectivity by linking with Line 7 at Dahisar. This connection allows passengers from the northern suburbs to reach the airport using Lines 7 and 7A. Metro Line 9 will enhance east-west travel and airport access with planned connections to Andheri West through Line 2B, Ghatkopar via Lines 7 and 1, and future transfers at Mira-Gaon for travel to Thane on Line 10.
On the other side of the harbour, Navi Mumbai’s metro system is also expanding. At present, it has one active line running 11.10 kilometres from Belapur to Pendhar with 11 stations. Future plans include Phase 2, which will stretch the line from Khandeshwar to MIDC Taloja, and Phase 3, connecting Pendhar to Taloja.
Cidco plans to extend Navi Mumbai Metro 1A by 3.02 km from Belapur to reach NMIA. This extension will link up with Mumbai Metro Line 8 at the Sagar Sangam Interchange station, situated opposite the NMMC headquarters.
As expansions progress simultaneously on both sides of the city, the Gold Line and its linked routes are set to change the way residents of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai commute, particularly benefiting those traveling to the airports.
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