MIAL in talks with R-ADAG for Metro link to a'port

Mumbai International Airport  (MIAL) is in talks with a consortium led by Anil Ambani group, which has bagged the contract for Mumbai Metro project, to provide direct rail link to the new airport terminal.

"A direct access from the metro is an option and we are exploring it... we are in talks with MRTP for providing a direct access to the airport terminal from the proposed metro rail project,"  G V Sanjay Reddy, managing director MIAL, said.

A consortium led by R-ADAG firm Reliance Energy and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has bagged the contract for the Rs 2,356 crore phase-I of the Mumbai Metro Rail Project.

The work on the 11 km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, which comes under Phase-I, will start this month.

The original plan of Mumbai Metro does not envisage connectivity to the city airport.

However, GVK suggested a separate link to the airport be provided from Saki Naka and an elevator be constructed so that passengers are able to access the terminal building.

The first corridor will be completed within three years by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by Mumbai Metro-I consortium.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Project involves three phases covering nine corridors at a cost of Rs 19,000 crore.