Mumbai International Airport Limited to be asked to share cost of Metro extension to airport

MMRDA will soon write to the MIAL asking the latter to share the cost of constructing an underground Metro corridor. ( Source: File Photo)

THE MUMBAI Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will soon write to the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) asking the latter to share the cost of constructing an underground Metro corridor to cater to the airport area.

The Metro line to the airport will be an extension to the under-construction Metro Line 7 (Dahisar East to Andheri East). A senior officer from MMRDA said they expect the MIAL to pay about Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,200 crore.

The state government has recently given a nod for the extension of the Metro line 7 till the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport’s Terminal 2 towards the southern end of the line. On its west, the Metro 7 will be extended till Mira-Bhyander.

Sources in the MMRDA said MIAL had earlier rejected the proposal to share expenses for the construction of the extension, but following a recent meeting between the MIAL and Metropolitan Commissioner R A Rajeev, it has come around. Following a positive response from MIAL, the MMRDA had calculated the sum that would have to be paid by MIAL. In all, the extension of the Metro 7 line will cost about Rs 6,670 crore.

Construction work on both the extensions, which measure around 10 km in elevated route towards Mira Road and 3.5 km underground route towards the airport, is expected to start at the end of January 2019.

The Mumbai airport operator is already contributing Rs 777 crore towards Metro Rail construction, as three stations along the 33.5-km Metro 3 line will connect to the airport.