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“The CST to the airport is no longer a distant dream,” said Prime Minister Fadnavis, calling the progress “a wonder of engineering” and a critical step to complete 150 km from the subway next year.
The event was commemorated with style, with Maharashtra Prime Minister Devendra Fadnavis pressing the ceremonial button to mark the advance. (Image: x)
In a significant leap towards the transformation of the Mumbai Metropolitan Network, the Development Authority of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMRDA) has achieved its first tunnel advance for the Metro 7A line. This underground stretch, which will connect directly to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSMIA) International Airport, marks an important milestone in the Mumbai infrastructure trip.
The event was commemorated with style, with Maharashtra Prime Minister Devendra Fadnavis pressing the ceremonial button to mark the advance. He was joined by key dignitaries, including mangal Pabhat Lodha, Minister of Development of Skills, and MLA Parag Alwani. Senior officials such as Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner and additional commissioners Vikram Kumar and Ashwin Mudgal were also present.
The 1.6 kilometers tunnel was excavated with a tunnel hole machine (TBM), launched on September 1, 2023. Navigating the urban underground dense was not an easy feat. The TBM had to pass over the 3 -meter line 3 line and under the high road of the SAHAR and several utilities, an extremely complex task in terms of engineering and coordination.
Despite the thesis challenges, MMRDA delivered precisely and speed. “The CST to the airport is no longer a distant dream,” said Prime Minister Fadnavis, calling the progress “a wonder of engineering” and a critical step to complete 150 km from the subway next year. The 7a Metro line will act as a vital connector, which allows a gentle transit of colaba in southern Mumbai to the northern suburbs or vasai-virar through Mira-Bhayander, while it is also linked that and the next Navi Mumbai International Airport. It will have two stations: Airport Colony (Elevated) and CSMIA (Underground), which offers Mumbaikars and tourists easier and faster access to the airport. From now on, 59% of construction work in this meter line has been completed.
“This corridor will revolutionize mobility not only within Mumbai but for the entire MMR,” said Eknath Shinde, principal vice minister and president of MMRDA. He emphasized the importance of building a world -class infrastructure for both locals and visitors. In addition to this feeling, Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee said that the end of the tunnel reflects MMRDA’s vision of creating a connected and globally competitive transport network. “This is not just building a meter; it is about improving the accessibility and economic vitality of the city,” he said.
With several metropolitan lines such as 1, 2, 3, 3 and 7 and 7a operational, Metro Line 7a is erected as a symbol or commitment of MMRDA with an integrated mumbai and ready for the future. As the city closer to a metropolitan dream of 337 kilometers, today’s progress is more than a construction milestone, it is a promise of a softer, faster and more connected Mumbai.
