By Arosh John | Founder – John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835) | Editor-in-Chief – Thane Real Estate News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 October 2025 inaugurated two of Maharashtra’s most ambitious infrastructure projects — the ₹19,650-crore Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and the final stretch of Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ).
During his visit, he also launched ‘Mumbai One’, India’s first unified mobility app integrating ticketing and travel across all public-transport systems in the MMR.
Navi Mumbai International Airport: India’s New Aviation Gateway
Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. and CIDCO jointly developed NMIA.
Phase 1 will handle 20 million passengers annually, and future expansions will increase capacity to 90 million.
Located near Ulwe–Panvel, the airport includes twin runways, a modular terminal, and connectivity to metro, coastal-road, and expressway corridors.
Although Phase 1 was inaugurated, commercial flights are expected to begin by December 2025 following DGCA approval.
Prime Minister Modi stated:
“Navi Mumbai International Airport will transform Maharashtra into an aviation and logistics powerhouse. Infrastructure is the foundation of Viksit Bharat, and the Mumbai–Navi Mumbai corridor will become a global benchmark for multimodal integration.”
Also Read: Thane–NMIA Elevated Road Approved for ₹6,363 Crore
Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line): South Mumbai to SEEPZ in Under an Hour
Metro Line 3 spans 33.5 km underground, connecting Cuffe Parade, Churchgate, Marine Lines, BKC, Airport T2, and SEEPZ.
The newly inaugurated Phase 2B segment (Acharya Atre Chowk–Cuffe Parade) completes the corridor.
It will serve about 1.7 million commuters daily once operations begin.
Built at a cost of ₹12,200 crore, the line will cut end-to-end travel time to roughly 50 minutes.
This milestone marks a major leap toward seamless north–south mobility in Mumbai.
Related: Metro Line-4’s Thane Stretch to Open by December 2025
‘Mumbai One’: A Unified Travel Experience
The Mumbai One app enables route planning, digital ticketing, and live tracking for commuters.
It connects 11 transport operators, including Metro Lines 1 to 11, BEST, MSRTC, and ferry services.
Consequently, passengers can move across the region using a single digital ticket.
This initiative advances Mumbai toward a “one-city, one-ticket” model and supports smarter, data-driven transport management.
Impact on Thane and the MMR
These inaugurations mark a turning point for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Thane will benefit once the ₹6,363-crore Thane–NMIA Elevated Road opens, providing direct airport access within 30 minutes.
Together with Metro Lines 4, 5, and 10, this project creates a fully integrated network connecting city, metro, and airport.
As a result, Thane’s position as a strategic investment hub will strengthen, driving growth in both residential and commercial sectors.
About the Author
Arosh John is the Founder of John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835) — one of Thane’s leading real-estate consultancy firms, known for its expertise in luxury villas, premium apartments, and strategic investment advisory. With over a decade of experience, he also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Thane Real Estate News, publishing verified insights on infrastructure, policy, and market trends shaping the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Disclaimer
This report is based on verified information from the Prime Minister’s Office, Press Information Bureau (Maharashtra), and national media (The Economic Times, Times of India, Indian Express — October 2025).
While NMIA Phase 1 and Metro Line 3 Phase 2B have been inaugurated, passenger operations and full integration will begin after statutory approvals. Thane Real Estate News is an independent editorial platform unaffiliated with any developer or government body. All project names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.
