A design error in Mumbai Metro Line 7A could result in a significant financial blow to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), estimated at approximately 250–260 crore rupees. The issue relates to the height of the elevated viaduct and the Overhead Equipment (OHE) system near the Airport Colony station in Vile Parle East.
This section is located within the critical airspace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. According to MMRDA data, although the Airports Authority of India (AAI) granted project approval, the lead consultant and the SYSTRA-CEG-SMCIPL design consortium failed to adequately account for the additional height of the OHE system during planning and design.
As a result, the constructed infrastructure is approximately 2.5 meters higher than the safety standards set by aviation authorities. Notably, this error was only discovered in 2025, long after construction had advanced significantly. By early 2026, the elevated viaduct was nearly complete, and the Airport Colony station and its elevated ramp were also nearing completion.
Construction of this segment has been halted since 2025. MMRDA has approached the aviation authorities requesting a height exemption and is currently awaiting a final technical report from these authorities. If AAI denies the exemption, MMRDA may be forced to demolish and reconstruct an elevated viaduct spanning about 1 kilometer. Even a simple lowering of the track or viaduct would be a complex task, as it could affect the necessary gradient for safe metro operation.
MMRDA holds the design consultants responsible for this error, asserting that aviation height restrictions were not adequately incorporated into the design and planning phases. Basavraj MB, Projects Director of MMRDA Metro, stated that further steps will be determined following a technical assessment based on the final report from the aviation authorities.
Line 7A, which is 3.4 kilometers long, is a vital link connecting Andheri East with the airport. This line is intended to provide passengers with connectivity to Underground Line 3. The project was initially planned for a 2021 launch, but the implementation timeline has been repeatedly postponed.