26 April,2026 05:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/MMRDA
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has achieved a major engineering milestone on Mumbai Metro Line 6 by completing the erection of a 42-metre steel span over an active Western Railway corridor near Jogeshwari.
The development marks a significant step forward in the execution of the 14.5-km fully elevated metro corridor, one of the city's key east-west connectivity projects.
The milestone began with the construction of Pier P124, located between live up and down railway tracks - one of the most challenging segments of the corridor.
Executing substructure work in this high-risk zone required detailed planning, strict adherence to railway safety protocols, and close coordination with railway authorities. Despite continuous train movement, the work was completed without disrupting operations.
Key challenges included restricted night working windows, limited space, and the need for continuous monitoring to ensure safety compliance.
Following the pier construction, MMRDA installed a 42-metre-long steel composite girder between Pier P123 and P124. The structure weighs approximately 168.96 metric tonnes and consists of multiple girders and bracing elements forming a composite system.
The entire installation was completed within a scheduled railway block of about 10 hours, demonstrating precise planning and execution.
The operation involved synchronized lifting using 500-tonne and 600-tonne hydraulic cranes positioned between active railway tracks.
Despite space constraints, the span was successfully placed at a height of 10-12 metres above railway level while maintaining all required safety clearances. The work was completed within the permitted time frame and without affecting railway services beyond the approved block.
Mumbai Metro Line 6 (Pink Line) is currently at an advanced stage of construction, with 87.7 per cent of civil work completed.
The corridor spans 14.5 kilometres and is fully elevated, with a total of 13 stations planned along the route. A depot is being developed at Kanjurmarg, and a double-decker flyover is planned along the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road.
The corridor is designed to integrate with multiple metro and suburban rail lines. It will connect with Metro Line 2A at Adarsh Nagar, Metro Line 7 at JVLR, Metro Line 3 at SEEPZ, and Metro Line 4 at Kanjurmarg. It will also link with suburban railway stations at Jogeshwari and Kanjurmarg.
Once operational, Metro Line 6 will connect Swami Samarth Nagar (Lokhandwala) to Vikhroli, significantly improving cross-city travel.
The corridor is expected to reduce travel time, ease congestion on major routes such as the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, and encourage a shift from private vehicles to public transport, contributing to lower emissions and improved urban mobility.
MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said the milestone reflects steady progress on one of the project's most complex sections. He added that authorities are evaluating options for phased operationalisation to ensure early benefits for commuters.
"Metro Line 6 has been a long-awaited project for Mumbaikars, and we are conscious of the expectations associated with it. This milestone marks meaningful progress in one of the most challenging sections of the corridor and reflects our focused efforts to move the project forward with speed and precision. At this stage, we are also actively evaluating multiple options to operationalise the corridor in a phased manner, so that commuters can start benefiting from the project at the earliest. Our priority remains to deliver a reliable and efficient east-west connectivity solution for the city," Mukherjee said.
