2.5-metre slip nearly cost Mumbai airport metro Rs 250 crore. A fix is near

A critical flaw in the design of Mumbai's Metro Line 7A viaduct, which threatened to halt construction and cost nearly Rs 250 crore, is reportedly nearing resolution. The issue arose after Systra, MMRDA's consultant, failed to account for an additional 2.5 metres required for overhead electric wires in the airport's funnel zone, a restricted area with strict height limits.

This oversight came to light in early 2025, causing construction on the 1km elevated section to stall. However, recent developments suggest the problem will be rectified. MIAL conducted a survey and determined that the extra height for the OHE wires would not obstruct flight paths. They have since sent their findings to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), who are expected to issue updated height-clearance no-objection certificates (NOCs).

While a written clearance from the AAI is still pending, officials remain optimistic. MIAL's major stakeholder, Adani Group, was reportedly consulted for the additional height approval. Despite work resuming, a complete restoration to full operations is unlikely in the near future due to ongoing construction hurdles at underground stations.