The Maharashtra government has signed a strategic partnership with Norway-based maritime technology company Hyke AS for the proposed Mumbai Water Metro project, a large-scale urban water transport initiative planned across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The agreement was signed between the Maharashtra Maritime Board and Hyke AS in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Ports and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane. The collaboration aims to introduce technologically advanced passenger ferries while also exploring opportunities for establishing shipbuilding facilities in Maharashtra.
The proposed Mumbai Water Metro is envisioned as a major multimodal transport system designed to reduce pressure on Mumbai’s overcrowded road and suburban rail networks by utilising coastal routes, creeks, and inland waterways across the metropolitan region.
According to the Detailed Project Report prepared by Kochi Metro Rail Limited, the project will cover 31 water transport routes and include 45 passenger terminals across the MMR. The plan proposes upgrading 24 existing terminals on 21 operational waterways while constructing 21 new terminals on 10 additional routes.
The network is expected to eventually span nearly 340 km of waterways connecting key urban and coastal zones, including South Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai, Mira-Bhayander, Kalyan, Panvel, Bandra, Worli, and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport region.
Phase I of the project will focus on high-demand corridors such as Gateway of India–Nariman Point, Radio Club–Navi Mumbai International Airport, Versova–Madh, Borivali/Marve–EsselWorld, Bandra–Worli–Nariman Point, and Kalyan–Dombivli–Mumbra–Kolshet.
Officials stated that the project is being developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) model with an estimated investment of around ₹6,600 crore covering infrastructure and vessel deployment. The phased rollout is expected to begin from December 2026, with projected annual ridership estimated at nearly 7.5 crore passengers by 2031.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state has been working on sustainable water transport planning for nearly a decade and described the project as a transformative step towards cleaner and more efficient urban mobility. He noted that effective use of waterways could significantly ease congestion in Mumbai while creating a model for other Indian cities.
The partnership with Hyke AS is also expected to support maritime skill development, vessel manufacturing, and the broader shipbuilding ecosystem in Maharashtra as the state pushes to strengthen its maritime infrastructure capabilities.
