The Maharashtra government has sanctioned the development of Metro Line 8, also known as the Gold Line, to establish a direct connection between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). This 35-kilometre corridor, a key part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) Metro Master Plan, is expected to enhance airport connectivity and ease passenger transit.
The project will be executed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, despite concerns over its effectiveness in past metro projects. Initially assigned to MMRDA, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has now been appointed as the nodal agency, tasked with preparing a detailed project report. With NMIA set to become operational by mid-2025, the metro line is expected to provide seamless connectivity between the two airports, supplementing existing links such as the Atal Setu and the upcoming Worli-Sewri connector.
Metro Line 8 will feature a 35 km stretch, including 25.8 km of elevated tracks and 8.2 km of underground sections. The corridor will traverse key areas like Kurla and Mankhurd, linking Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and a planned Interstate Bus Terminal at Mankhurd. It will have 20 stations and integrate with Metro 2B. Estimated at Rs 15,000 crore (as of 2023), the project is expected to be completed in approximately six years, marking a significant step in improving urban mobility in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
