Mumbai Metro 7A Faces Delays Due To AAI Height Restrictions

The Mumbai Metro 7A project, connecting Gundavali to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, has been halted due to height restrictions imposed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) sought AAI clearance in November 2023 for the Airport Colony station and ramp. However, AAI approved a height 2.9 meters lower than required, stalling construction. In January 2024, MMRDA applied for additional clearance, arguing that altering the metro’s height would disrupt the ramp’s gradient.

According to MMRDA sources, the delay has been attributed to an oversight by the project’s general consultant, Systra MVA Consulting, which failed to align the station’s design with AAI’s No Objection Certificate (NOC). An internal MMRDA document acknowledged that drawings were prepared without adhering to permissible height limits.

The 3.42-km Metro 7A, partially elevated and partially underground, is being built by J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd. Originally slated for completion in 2021, repeated delays have pushed the deadline to December 2026, escalating costs to ₹812 crore. The setback also hampers last-mile connectivity to the airport, despite Mumbai Metro 3’s operational link.