London, Shanghai and several other international cities have had it for long; closer home, Delhi will have one before the Commonwealth Games. Next, Mumbai will follow with a dedicated Metro service to its international airport.

The state government plans to introduce the service from the two central business districts (CBDs) of Nariman Point and Bandra Kurla Complex. Stations at the CBDs would have check-in facilities for fliers, as in all cities with such services.

“The luggage will be transported directly to the train and then to the aircraft. This will reduce the rush at the airport,” TC Benjamin, principal secretary of the state urban development

department, said on Wednesday, after a meeting between officials of the government and the

Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL).

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has proposed an extension of the Metro’s Colaba-Bandra corridor, third of the first phase, to connect BKC to the airport. The urban development department plans to clear the proposal.

In Delhi, work on the 23 km Airport Express Metro route took off last year and is expected to be completed by next year. Trains will start at the CBD at Connaught Place and stop at six boarding stations along the route; passengers can get off only at the airport.

“Most international flights are scheduled between 10 pm and 4 am which is when this offshoot of the third corridor will be used most by fliers. By the time our corridor is ready, hopefully the new integrated passenger terminal, catering to both domestic and international passengers, should also be ready. This way, even domestic fliers can travel by Metro,” MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said.

... contd.