The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is nearing completion of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Line 8, commonly known as the Gold Line. This strategic 34.9-kilometre corridor is set to link Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Estimated to cost around Rs 200 billion, the project is being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Once completed, Metro Line 8 will become Mumbai's second such corridor after Metro Line 1. CIDCO plans to float tenders once the DPR is submitted, with the bidding process expected to conclude within the year. The metro line is targeted for commissioning by 2029. Starting underground at CSMIA Terminal 2, the route will remain subterranean up to Chheda Nagar before transitioning to an elevated track along the Sion-Panvel Highway—an alteration from the original plan that proposed using Palm Beach Road. CIDCO Vice Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal underlined the importance of the project, stating that the alignment would pass through key transit hubs such as Kurla and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), thereby enhancing multimodal connectivity between metro services and both suburban and long-distance trains. He explained that the corridor would continue through Mankhurd, Vashi, Nerul, and Belapur, functioning as a crucial east-west transit link that connects the two international airports while integrating major residential and commercial zones. He further pointed out that the Gold Line would include interchange stations with seven existing and proposed metro lines within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), thereby significantly improving commuting efficiency. Singhal noted that these interchanges would facilitate seamless travel across the city and surrounding areas, establishing Metro Line 8 as a key part of the region’s integrated transportation system. With a projected daily ridership of 9 lakh, Metro Line 8 is expected to alleviate traffic on congested routes such as the Eastern Express and Sion-Panvel Highways, while offering faster and more dependable connectivity for air travellers between the two airports. Singhal added that having direct connectivity between Mumbai’s two airports would accelerate development across the MMR and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy. News source: Swarajya