Metro starts serving bustling Mumbai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport and also launched and dedicated various developmental projects in Mumbai on 8 Oct, highlighting that the airport will play a major role in establishing the region as one of Asia’s largest connectivity hubs https://www.conexpoconagg.com/.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport will connect Maharashtra’s farmers to supermarkets in Europe and the Middle East, enabling fresh produce, fruits, vegetables and fishery products to reach global markets swiftly.
He noted that the airport will reduce export costs for nearby small and medium industries, boost investment, and lead to the establishment of new enterprises http://pmindia.gov.in.
He also pointed out that Mumbai has now received a fully underground metro, which will make travel easier and save time for commuters. “The underground metro is a living symbol of a developing India and in a bustling city like Mumbai, this remarkable metro has been constructed underground while preserving historic buildings,” he said http://commerce.gov.in.
Underlining that India offers countless opportunities for its youth, the Prime Minister highlighted the recent launch of the Rs.60,000 crore PM Setu scheme aimed at linking numerous ITIs across the country with industry.
He noted that starting today, the Maharashtra government has introduced new programs for training students in emerging technologies such as drones, robotics, electric vehicles, solar energy, and green hydrogen https://www.bseindia.com/.
India has built 86 airports, totalling 160, since 2014, up from had only 74 airports in those years. Highlighting that India has now become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, PM Modi shared that Indian airlines are continuously expanding and placing orders for hundreds of new aircraft. “This growth is creating new opportunities for pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and ground workers https://www.nseindia.com/.”
He affirmed that the goal is to establish India as a major MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) hub by the end of this decade.
Citing Rs.76,000 crore Vadhavan Port project as an example, he added that when trade expands and the logistics sector gains momentum.
Background
In line with his vision of transforming India into a global aviation hub, Prime Minister inaugurated the Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) built at a cost of around Rs.19,650 crores.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport is India’s largest Greenfield airport project, developed under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP). As the second international airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, NMIA will work in tandem with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to ease congestion and elevate Mumbai into the league of global multi-airport systems. The airport, designed to be among the most efficient in the world with 1160 Ha area, will eventually handle 90 million passengers annually (MPPA) and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo.
Among its unique offerings is an Automated People Mover (APM), a transit system planned to connect all four passenger terminals for smooth inter-terminal transfers, as well as a landside APM linking the city-side infrastructure. In line with sustainable practices, the airport will feature dedicated storage for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), solar power generation of approximately 47 MW, and EV bus services for public connectivity across the city. NMIA will also be the first airport in the country to be connected by Water Taxi.
PM Modi also inaugurated Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3, stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs.12,200 crore. With this, he dedicated the entire Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) — to the nation with a total cost of over Rs.37,270 crore, marking a major milestone in the city’s urban transport transformation.
The Mumbai Metro Line–3, spanning 33.5 km from Cuffe Parade to Aarey JVLR with 27 stations, will cater to 13 lakh passengers daily. The final Phase 2B of the project will provide seamless connectivity to South Mumbai’s heritage and cultural districts such as Fort, Kala Ghoda, and Marine Drive, along with direct access to key administrative and financial hubs including the Bombay High Court, Mantralaya, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and Nariman Point.
The Metro Line-3 has been designed to ensure efficient integration with other modes of transport, including railways, airports, other metro lines, and monorail services, thereby enhancing last-mile connectivity and reducing congestion across the metropolitan region.
Prime Minister also launched “Mumbai One” – Integrated Common Mobility App for 11 Public transport Operators (PTO) across Metro, Monorail, Suburban railways and Bus PTOs. These include Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7, Mumbai Metro Line 3, Mumbai Metro Line 1, Mumbai Monorail, Navi Mumbai Metro, Mumbai Suburban Railway, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Thane Municipal Transport, Mira Bhayander Municipal Transport, Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Transport and Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport.
Mumbai One App offers commuters a range of benefits, including integrated mobile ticketing across multiple Public Transport Operators, elimination of queueing by promoting digital transactions, and seamless multimodal connectivity through a single dynamic ticket for trips involving multiple transport modes. It also provides real-time journey updates on delays, alternative routes, and estimated arrival times, along with map-based information on nearby stations, attractions, and points of interest, and an SOS feature to ensure commuter safety. Together, these features enhance convenience, efficiency, and security, transforming the public transportation experience across Mumbai. Fiinews.com
