Mumbai Water Metro Phase 1 Advances

The Maharashtra Maritime Board has opened bids for a consultant on Mumbai Water Metro Phase 1, pushing the project from planning into procurement. (mumbailive.com) (freepressjournal.in) The request for proposal was opened on April 17, 2026. Phase 1 is budgeted at about ₹1,621 crore and is targeted for completion by 2029. (mumbailive.com) (freepressjournal.in) The first phase covers 16 routes and 26 terminals across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with eight existing corridors to be upgraded and eight new ones to be added. (metrorailtoday.com) (metrorailnews.in) The network is planned to link Mumbai with Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Vasai and Mira-Bhayander, using creeks and coastal stretches as another layer of public transport. (financialexpress.com) (metrorailtoday.com) Reports on the tender say the consultant will handle project management, design, procurement support and supervision for terminal, navigational and emergency infrastructure. (nbmcw.com) (tenderdetail.com) Three high-profile terminals — Gateway of India, Nariman Point and Navi Mumbai International Airport — are being developed separately, but the Phase 1 consultant is expected to coordinate with those agencies. (metrorailnews.in) (jantaserishta.com) One reported route list includes airport-facing links such as Vashi–Navi Mumbai International Airport, Belapur–Navi Mumbai International Airport and Gateway of India–Navi Mumbai International Airport. (m.dailyhunt.in) (punenow.com) The project is set up as a public-private partnership. Government agencies are expected to build terminals and jetties, while private operators would run services on the network. (mumbailive.com) (freepressjournal.in) Mumbai already has fragmented ferry services, but this plan would package them into a scheduled regional system tied to airport access and suburban commuting. The next marker is consultant selection, which will determine how fast Phase 1 moves toward construction. (financialexpress.com) (mumbailive.com)