Navi Mumbai opens first metro line eight years late

Creating southwest and east Navi Mumbai, this rapidly expanding city has recently seen the opening of its new 11.1km standard gauge line including 11 elevated stations. The line runs from CBD Belapur in the southwest to Pendhar in the northwest. 

 

Plans are already in place for the line to extend across the river and reach a total length of 23.4km and the city are considering constructing a new metro line which would connect to the Mumbai airport. 

 

Having already carried 100,000 passengers in its frst 10 days of operation, it is proving a popular mode of transit within the city. 

 

'The response is extremely positive, 'Cidoc's joing managing director, Mr Rajesh Patil commented, 'On an average day, over 15,000 commuters are using the line. This has certainly given an impetus toward getting the other lines commissioned at the earliest.' 

 

Completion of the first phase had been delayed by eight years from its planned December 2015 deadline due to a series of contractor issues and legal challenges.