For years, Mumbaikars have witnessed frustrating delays due to the city’s horrible traffic, where journeys that should take just 20 minutes often stretch to over an hour. They have continuously tried to solve this issue with various developments, like the metro and the aqua metro lines. Now they are all set to launch the Kochi-style Water Metro system, and according to the latest update, this system is expected to be launched in December 2026. From routes to fares, here’s everything you must know about the Mumbai Water Metro.
Mumbai Water Metro To Launch In December 2026
Mumbai’s Water Metro is an ambitious public transport project launching battery-powered electric ferries as water taxis. It is inspired by the Kochi’s successful water metro model, but is scaled a bit larger than the Kochi one. It will feature a 250-km network, 6 to 8 routes with 21-29 terminals connecting the coastal areas of Mumbai. This includes Vasai, Vaitarna, Thane, Manori, Karanja, and Panvel.
Talking about the updates, Maharashtra Ports Minister Nitesh Rane said that the project is expected to begin in December 2026. The project will begin in phases by beginning with the routes that are inside the city, and later expanding to the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The INR 1200 crore initiative is expected to slash down traffic congestion in the city of dreams.
Mumbai Water Metro: Routes and Expansion Plan
The state government has identified two initial routes that focus on the high-demand coastal corridors. They will be connecting Mumbai’s Southern part to the western suburbs through electric ferries. The boats will be carrying about 50 to 100 passengers at AC local fares. These soon-to-be-launched routes will help ease pressure on the Western Express Highway and Bandra-Worli Sea Link. This will help people reach their destination on time and also keep the traffic woes at bay.
- Nariman Point
- Worli
- Bandra
- Juhu
- Versova
The project will initially connect only key city points and later will expand to other districts in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Once the Radio Club jetty near the Gateway of India is activated, trips to Navi Mumbai International Airport will take just 40 minutes. This will slash the travel time from 2 hours to a magical 40 minutes.
Mumbai Water Metro: Fares And Tickets
A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) network will be submitted by February 28. Hence, the final ticket prices are kept under wraps and will be announced once the final approvals are received. Similarly, the details about ticket bookings will also be announced closer to the launch period. The officials have indicated that the fare for the upcoming Mumbai Water Metro will be in line with the AC local train fare. A formal announcement about the same is expected during the state budget presentation. This presentation will take place on March 6, 2026.
Summing Up
As Mumbai continues to grapple with major traffic congestion, the Mumbai Water Metro will be a huge relief for the commuters. It will be a transformative transport option and travel experience for Mumbaikars. We hope that the launch does take place in December 2026 as expected. What are your views?
