Navi Mumbai Metro Expansion: 13 New Stations, Direct Airport Connect — Route, Fare, Frequency

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a Rs 5,575 crore expansion of the Navi Mumbai Metro, clearing Line 1A (Sagar Sangam to CBD Belapur) and Line 2 (Pendhar to Navi Mumbai International Airport). Together with the existing Line 1, the two new lines will create a seamless 28-km metro corridor — with 13 new stations — running from Sagar Sangam all the way to NMIA's eastern entrance. (X/@TheINIofficial)

Navi Mumbai Metro's existing Line 1 has been operational since November 2023, connecting CBD Belapur to Pendhar across 11.1 km and 11 stations. The newly approved lines extend that spine significantly — Line 1A plugs the Sagar Sangam–Belapur gap to the north, while Line 2 pushes south from Pendhar all the way to the airport, creating one unbroken corridor for the first time. (X/@imonikaudeshi)

For daily commuters in Kharghar, Taloja, Belapur and Nerul, the expansion means no more breaking journeys or hunting for cabs to reach the airport. The existing Line 1 was always planned to extend to NMIA, and Mumbai Metro Line 8 — the proposed Gold Line — will eventually connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport directly to NMIA. The newly approved lines bring that multi-airport metro vision closer to reality.

Fares on the existing Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 are among the most affordable in the MMR — the minimum fare is ₹10 for short journeys, and the maximum fare for the full 11-km stretch is ₹30, after a 33% reduction introduced in September 2024 to encourage ridership. No fare structure has been announced yet for the new lines, but the CIDCO-run network has signalled a commuter-first pricing approach. (X/@s_amit007)

During peak hours — 7 to 10 am and 5 to 8 pm — trains on the existing line run every 10 minutes, with 15-minute frequency off-peak. The first train departs at 6 am and the last leaves Pendhar at 9.45 pm. As the network expands to the airport, pressure will grow to extend operating hours — commuters have already been demanding earlier morning and late-night services.

The Line 1A airport extension is expected to be completed within 2 to 3 years, connecting Pendhar to NMIA via an interchange at Sagar Sangam. The full 28-km corridor, once operational, is projected to serve nearly 12 lakh passengers daily — significantly easing road congestion on the heavily burdened Sion-Panvel Highway and reducing cab dependency across Navi Mumbai.

NMIA opened on December 25, 2025 and currently handles over 34 daily departures to 15-plus cities, with IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Star Air among the carriers operating from the terminal. With metro connectivity now formally approved and funded, residents across the MMR's eastern corridor — long underserved by public transport — finally have a clear timeline for last-mile access to the city's second international airport.