In a bid to bolster connectivity to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has unveiled plans to extend the Navi Mumbai Metro (NMM) network with two new routes in the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA).
The proposed metro routes aim to augment transportation links within the NAINA region, covering 174 villages within a 25 km radius of NMIA, spread over 371 sq km. These developments come as part of CIDCO’s broader mobility plan for the region, aimed at enhancing accessibility and connectivity.
CIDCO has initiated the tender process to appoint a consultant for the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), a crucial step in securing grants from the central government for these projects. In its annual budget, CIDCO has allocated significant funds, with ₹539.37 crore earmarked for NAINA region development and ₹690 crore allocated for metro expansion.
The first proposed metro route will stretch from the Ulwe coastal road to Ambivali in Raigad, aiming to provide swift connectivity from NAINA areas to NMIA. The second route under consideration is the Kalamboli – Chikhale – Kon corridor, intended to improve accessibility to key locations such as Panvel, Taloja MIDC, and neighboring areas.
Mohan Ninawe, CIDCO’s public relations officer for NAINA, emphasized the importance of these metro lines, stating, “Connections from Taloja to the airport (Line 2, 3, and 4), airport to Belapur (Line 1A), and Belapur to Mankhurd (Line 8A) are being planned for the development of the metro network. In NAINA, two metro lines are in the planning phase.”
To secure funding, CIDCO is required to submit a detailed CMP to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, with expectations of a 20% grant from the central government. The corporation has initiated the process to enlist consultants for crafting the CMP and is concurrently working on a detailed project report (DPR) with the assistance of Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC).
UMTC has been tasked with preparing the DPR for the proposed Metro corridors in NAINA, as well as for Lines 2, 3, and 4. CIDCO officials, in collaboration with the UMTC team, are actively examining potential alignments to ensure seamless connectivity to Pendhar, Taloja, Kasadi, Kalamboli, Kamothe, Khandeshwar, and NMIA.
The expansion of the Navi Mumbai Metro network underscores CIDCO’s commitment to fostering efficient transportation infrastructure and facilitating seamless connectivity within the region, particularly in anticipation of the upcoming NMIA.
Sources By Agencies