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Maha infrastructure committee approves Metro Line 8 to connect Mumbai-Navi Mumbai Airports
Mumbai: In a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Infrastructure Committee, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued several directives to accelerate the state’s transport and connectivity landscape. The committee granted formal approval to the ambitious Metro Line 8 and key highway projects in Nashik and Gadchiroli.
The committee approved the 35 km Metro Line 8 of the Gold Line, a high-speed corridor designed to connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
Of the 35 km, 9.25 km will be underground and 24.636 km elevated. The Gold Line is designed as a crucial infrastructure link to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. There will be a total of 20 stations, including six underground from CSMIA Terminal 2 to Ghatkopar East and 14 elevated from Ghatkopar West to NMIA Terminal 2. The average distance between two stations will be 1.9 km. The estimated cost will be Rs 22,862 crore.
Nearly 30.7 hectares of land is required at an estimated cost of Rs 388 crore. CM Fadnavis directed officials to complete land acquisition and all regulatory approvals within the next six months, with a mandate to complete the entire project within three years thereafter.
With NMIA set to handle significant passenger traffic, seamless movement between the two airports will be crucial for transit flyers, airline crew, cargo operators and outstation travellers. Road travel between the points where the airports are located currently takes over 70-90 minutes, depending on traffic.
The Gold Line was earlier planned jointly by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited, which will now be constructed through a public-private partnership model by CIDCO in association with a private consortium.
To bolster connectivity in Eastern Maharashtra, CM Fadnavis ordered acceleration of the extended Samruddhi Mahamarg arms. These include the Nagpur-Gondia and Bhandara-Gadchiroli highway sections. He emphasised that projects must adhere to strict timelines to prevent cost overruns and delays.
In view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela, the committee fast-tracked the 66.15 km Nashik City Outer Ring Road (Parikrama Marg) with an approved budget of Rs 3,954 crore.
Additionally, to facilitate mineral transport in Gadchiroli, the committee approved improving the Navegaon More – Konsari – Mulchera – Hedari – Surjagarh highway. This 85.76 km stretch will be upgraded to a four-lane cement concrete highway.
CM Fadnavis, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, underscored the importance of “readiness”, stating that all necessary permissions must be secured before physical work commences. “Projects must be completed within the stipulated period; there should be no lingering delays,” he noted.
Rupee tumbled to a record low of 95.40 against US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, falling another 17 paise after already ending the previous session at its weakest-ever closing mark. Previously on Monday, the currency had declined sharply by 39 paise to close at 95.23 against the greenback.This comes as global uncertainty continues to be fueled by intensifying Middle East tensions, dragging down financial markets. Crude oil prices have remained elevated, intensifying concerns around inflation and slowing economic growth. During Monday’s trade, rupee opened at 94.95 in the interbank foreign exchange market before sliding throughout the session to settle at 95.23.The cautious sentiment was reflected on Dalal Street as well as benchmark indices tumbled in red. BSE Sensex was trading at 77,090.12, down 179.28 points or 0.23% as of 9:40 am. NSE Nifty50 also dipped to 24,036.95, down 63.85 points or 0.26%.Dilip Parmar, Senior Research Analyst, HDFC Securities told PTI, “The Indian rupee has hit a record low as the dollar recovered and crude oil prices held firm. This ongoing surge in oil prices, combined with foreign fund outflows, is putting a visible strain on India’s trade balance and broader economy. Persistent dollar demand is expected to keep the pressure on the rupee in the short term, driving the USD/INR higher toward the 95.35 and 95.70 levels.“Foreign Institutional Investors remained net buyers in equities worth Rs 2,835.62 crore on Monday, based on exchange figures. In the commodity market, oil prices continued to soar. Crude oil prices were trading at nearly $113 per barrel on May 5 as fresh attacks in the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears over the stability of the US-Iran ceasefire.
Heineken has announced a substantial investment exceeding £44 million into hundreds of its pubs across the UK, a move expected to create approximately 850 jobs.
The Dutch brewing giant’s Star Pubs operation, which manages 2,350 sites nationwide, is undertaking this significant financial commitment despite a challenging period for the pub sector.
The industry has faced considerable pressure over the past year, grappling with escalating labour costs and increases in national insurance contributions.
Concurrently, consumer spending has been constrained by concerns over inflation and rising unemployment, further impacting pub revenues. However, pubs did receive additional business rates support from the government last month, aimed at alleviating some of these financial burdens.
Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of Star Pubs, indicated that the investment strategy is partly designed to bolster revenues and help the group navigate the recent “sustained increases in running costs”.
This year, £44.5 million will be allocated to upgrades for 647 pubs. A notable 108 of these venues are earmarked for particularly significant cash injections, with each transformation costing at least £145,000.
Heineken clarified that while the majority of its pubs are group-owned, they are independently operated by local licensees. A key focus for this investment, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 football World Cup, will be on sports-focused venues.
The pub firm and brewer has a history of significant investment in British pubs, having pumped £328 million into the sector since 2018. Work has already commenced at 52 locations, including eight projects dedicated to reopening boarded-up pubs that have endured lengthy closures.
Mr Mountstevens also urged the government to reduce the tax burden on pubs, arguing it would ease cost pressures and foster further job creation within the industry.
He stated: “We can only do so much; the root-and-branch reform of business rates that the industry has been calling for over many years is urgently required, as well as a lowering of the burden of taxation on pubs, including VAT and beer duty.”
He concluded with a direct appeal: “We are calling on the Government to support us in bringing out the best in the Great British pub.”
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Record low: Rupee falls to 95.40 against US dollar – The Times of India
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