Mumbai Gears Up for Transformation: PM Modi to Inaugurate Navi Mumbai Airport and Metro Line 3 on October 8–9

As Mumbai prepares to host one of the most significant infrastructure events in recent memory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit on October 8–9 marks a milestone in India’s urban transformation journey. The visit, which coincides with the city’s ongoing mobility and connectivity push, will see the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and the dedication of the Mumbai Metro Line 3 to the nation.

Both projects — emblematic of India’s expanding infrastructure ambition — underscore the government’s commitment to building future-ready cities. The Navi Mumbai airport, developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, represents a decisive leap in aviation capacity, while Metro Line 3 redefines urban mobility by connecting the city’s financial and cultural cores through an underground lifeline. Together, they symbolize India’s evolving approach: building scale with sustainability.

Reimagining Aviation Infrastructure: Navi Mumbai International Airport

At an estimated cost of Rs 19,650 crore, the Navi Mumbai International Airport is poised to become India’s largest Greenfield airport — and a global model of sustainable urban infrastructure. Designed to handle 90 million passengers annually and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo, the project marks the evolution of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) into a dual-airport system, reducing pressure on the overburdened Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).

The airport will feature an Automated People Mover (APM) connecting its four terminals, alongside a city-side APM for seamless last-mile access. Its green credentials include 47 MW of solar power generation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) storage, and electric bus connectivity. Notably, NMIA will also be India’s first airport with a Water Taxi service, linking it directly with South Mumbai and coastal nodes — a quiet nod to the city’s maritime heritage.

This initiative aligns with the government’s broader vision of positioning India as a logistics and aviation hub for the Global South, leveraging Mumbai’s strategic coastal location. Beyond connectivity, NMIA’s model integrates environmental planning, digital logistics, and employment generation, expected to create over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in its operational phase.

Mumbai Metro Line 3: The City’s Underground Artery

Complementing the airport inauguration, Prime Minister Modi will also dedicate Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) to the nation — a 33.5-km fully underground corridor built at a total cost of Rs 37,270 crore. The line stretches from Cuffe Parade to Aarey JVLR, covering 27 stations and is expected to serve 1.3 million passengers daily.

Phase 2B of the metro, from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, marks the final link completing the city’s first subterranean network. It connects key administrative and financial hubs — including the Bombay High Court, Mantralaya, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and Nariman Point — while easing congestion across Fort, Kala Ghoda, and Marine Drive.

The project’s significance extends beyond transport. By integrating smart ventilation, energy recovery systems, and noise reduction technologies, Metro Line 3 positions Mumbai among cities like Singapore and London that have successfully embedded sustainability in mass transit. Once operational, it is expected to cut carbon emissions by 2.6 lakh tonnes annually and reduce average commute times by 35 percent — a critical gain for a metropolis of over 20 million people.

Digital Integration: The Launch of ‘Mumbai One’
 

To complement this physical infrastructure, PM Modi will launch ‘Mumbai One’, a unified digital mobility platform integrating 11 Public Transport Operators (PTOs) — including Metro, Monorail, Suburban Railways, and city bus networks.

The app introduces digital ticketing, real-time travel updates, and multimodal route integration, making urban travel simpler and more efficient. For a city like Mumbai, where over 85 percent of daily commuters use public transport, this initiative represents the next phase of digital governance — creating seamless, data-driven mobility rather than fragmented systems.

‘Mumbai One’ reflects the shift from infrastructure as a physical asset to infrastructure as a connected service. In policy terms, this move exemplifies the government’s emphasis on “citizen-centric urbanism” — where smart design and digital convenience meet public accountability.

Empowering the Workforce: The STEP Initiative
 

In parallel, the visit will also feature the launch of the Short-Term Employability Programme (STEP) — a major skill development initiative led by Maharashtra’s Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The programme will cover 400 Government ITIs and 150 Government Technical High Schools, establishing 2,500 training batches. Among them, 364 will focus on women trainees, and 408 on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Electric Vehicles (EVs), and Solar Technology.

STEP illustrates a clear policy link between infrastructure expansion and human capital development — ensuring that the workforce driving India’s growth is equipped for a digital, green, and innovation-led economy.
 

India–UK Dialogue: Economic Diplomacy in Motion
 

Adding a diplomatic dimension, Prime Minister Modi will host UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Mumbai on October 9 — marking Starmer’s first official visit to India. The two leaders will attend the India–UK CEO Forum and deliver keynote addresses at the 6th Global Fintech Fest at the Jio World Centre.

The discussions will review progress under the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on trade, technology, climate cooperation, defence collaboration, and education — core pillars of the Vision 2035 Roadmap. This high-level dialogue underscores the integration of India’s domestic reform agenda with its global economic diplomacy, particularly in the context of post-Brexit opportunities and fintech innovation.

A Convergence of Growth, Connectivity, and Global Ambition
 

The Prime Minister’s Mumbai visit is more than a ceremonial showcase of new infrastructure — it represents the next phase of India’s urban transformation strategy. Projects like NMIA and Metro Line 3 reflect an integrated vision of connectivity, sustainability, and inclusivity. Together with digital and skill initiatives, they reinforce a model of governance that prioritizes long-term capacity over short-term construction, and collaboration over compartmentalization.

Mumbai, as India’s economic nerve centre, has always been a testing ground for national ambition. This week’s developments signal a broader truth: that India’s cities are no longer just engines of consumption, but laboratories of transformation — where infrastructure, innovation, and intent converge to build the foundation of a modern nation.