India, Jan. 27 -- Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced a new metro line connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports. The 35 km-long line received state cabinet approval the same day.

According to Fadnavis, the metro will be 35 km long with a 9 km underground stretch. It will have 25 stations and have intersections at three other metro routes. It will cost an estimated Rs.18,000 crore.

The state government has given its nod to build the metro on a PPP model, with the state and the centre each contributing 20 per cent of the viability gap funding. The remaining 60 per cent is expected to be brought in by the private party building the metro

"The metro route is estimated to be built in five years, but I have in...