15 July,2026 01:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
MMRDA said it is following a phased construction strategy to make key depot facilities operational at the earliest. Pic/MMRDA
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 23 per cent of the construction of the Kasheli Metro Depot, which will serve as the operations, maintenance and stabling facility for Metro Line 5 connecting Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar.
According to MMRDA, spread over nearly 27 hectares near the Kasheli Toll Plaza, the depot achieved 23 per cent physical progress as of June 2026 after receiving statutory environmental clearances in August 2025. The facility is being developed to support the rolling stock fleet and long-term operations of the nearly 32-km Metro Line 5 corridor.
MMRDA said it is following a phased construction strategy to make key depot facilities operational at the earliest. This will enable train testing, inspection, maintenance and commissioning activities before the entire depot is completed.
The Kasheli Depot will function as the central hub for Metro Line 5's daily operations and maintenance. It has been designed to accommodate around 30 trainsets and will include five inspection bay lines, four workshop lines, a dedicated test track and shunting facilities.
Other planned infrastructure includes a Depot Control Centre, an administrative building, storage facilities, staff quarters, a receiving substation, auxiliary power systems, train washing and cleaning facilities, sewage and effluent treatment plants, rainwater harvesting systems, underground drainage and firefighting infrastructure.
According to MMRDA, the depot has been planned as an integrated facility capable of supporting routine maintenance, repairs and long-term asset management.
The project site consists of soft marine clay deposits extending between six and nine metres below the original ground level, requiring specialised engineering measures before construction.
MMRDA said it adopted a ground improvement programme in consultation with experts from IIT Bombay. The work involves the use of Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs) and staged surcharge loading to accelerate soil consolidation and improve the ground's load-bearing capacity.
Ground improvement was initially taken up across approximately 10 hectares, with surcharge embankments of nearly 6.2 metres placed in phases.
Construction is underway on several major components of the depot.
Work has commenced on the four-storey Depot Control Centre, while foundation work for staff quarters is also in progress. MMRDA also completed the lowering of 2,400-mm and 2,750-mm diameter Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) water mains in November 2025.
To support the early commissioning of Metro Line 5, MMRDA is developing temporary operational infrastructure alongside the permanent depot.
The interim facilities include a temporary inspection pit shed with a pre-engineered building structure, a bogie turntable, a test track, an Auxiliary Substation building and a dedicated shunting neck. These facilities will allow rolling stock inspection, testing, commissioning and train movement before the permanent depot is fully completed.
Once operational, the Kasheli Depot will support metro services across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar by providing maintenance and operational support for the Metro Line 5 network.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "The Kasheli Depot reflects Maharashtra's commitment to building modern and reliable public transport infrastructure. Metro Line 5 will strengthen connectivity across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar while advancing our vision of a developed, well-connected Maharashtra."
Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde said, "The Kasheli Depot will be central to the safe and efficient operation of Metro Line 5. Its steady progress brings the Mumbai Metropolitan Region closer to faster, reliable, and high-capacity public transport connectivity."
Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said, "The Kasheli Depot is the operational foundation of Metro Line 5. Despite challenging ground conditions, the project is advancing through scientific engineering, meticulous planning, and phased execution. It represents MMRDA's commitment to delivering robust metro infrastructure that will support reliable operations for decades to come."
