05 October,2026 07:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
Mumbai Metro One is set for a capacity boost, with 22 additional coaches proposed for the city's oldest Metro line to ease rush-hour crowding. The Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) has initiated procurement of the coaches, which will be used to convert existing four-car trains on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor into six-car formations.
The upgrade is expected to increase capacity by more than 50 per cent. However, the procurement, commissioning and deployment of the coaches remain subject to MMOPL's ongoing financial restructuring and availability of funds. An accelerated delivery schedule has been targeted, with timely financial support crucial to getting the additional capacity on to the tracks.
File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
The need for longer trains on Metro Line 1 has been evident for years. mid-day had highlighted in its June 30, 2018 edition how overcrowding had made travel on the line increasingly difficult with four-car trains. Experts had pointed out that the line had been designed for six-car trains, with platforms and supporting infrastructure capable of accommodating the longer formations. The proposed upgrade would add capacity without requiring a new line or another track.
A four-car rake carries around 1178 passengers, while a six-car formation can accommodate about 1792 - an increase of around 614 passengers per train. The 11.4-km corridor currently operates with four-car formations. The proposed 22 additional coaches will allow the existing trains to be converted to six-car formations.
The pressure on the Blue Line has grown as Mumbai's Metro network has expanded. Aqua Line 3, Yellow Line 2A, and Red Line 7 now feed passengers into the system, making stations such as Marol Naka and Western Express Highway important interchange points, alongside Andheri and Ghatkopar. This has added to peak-hour pressure on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, which remains a key east-west connection.
MMOPL has initiated procurement with technical support from the existing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), with the aim of ensuring that the new coaches can be integrated with the existing rolling stock and systems. The upgrade is expected to be implemented in phases. However, the pace of procurement will depend on MMOPL's ongoing financial restructuring and availability of funds.
An MMOPL official said, "MMOPL has initiated the augmentation of Mumbai Metro Line-1 capacity from 4-car to 6-car trains to address peak-hour congestion and cater to growing ridership. Accordingly, procurement of 22 additional coaches has been initiated, with technical support from the existing OEMs to ensure seamless integration with the existing rolling stock and systems. An accelerated delivery schedule has been envisaged. However, progress of the procurement is contingent upon the ongoing financial restructuring and availability of funds. Timely financial support will therefore be critical to expedite procurement, commissioning and deployment of the additional capacity."
Dhaval Shah, co-founder, Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens' Association
âThere is a dire need to increase the number of coaches to six. Provision of longer platforms is already in place. Lakhs of commuters using Mumbai Metro Line 1 are badly impacted by overcrowding and poor travel experience due to decade-old capacity which hasn't been upgraded.
If things don't change soon, this can lead to personal injuries and stampede-like situations for commuters. Line 1 is the only Metro line connecting east and west of Mumbai. As Lines 2A, 7 and 3 from the surrounding areas of south and north Mumbai, Dahisar to Andheri, are feeding more commuters into Line 1 now, it would be prudent to increase coaches to six'
Shubham Padave, commuter
âCrowding has persisted on the Blue Line, especially at interchange hubs. A six-coach configuration could provide a sizable capacity boost and shorter dwell pressures during peak hours'
