Metro Line 6 clears key hurdle with 42m span over Western Railway tracks

MMRDA team that completed the steel span erection over Western Railway near Jogeshwari on Sunday night. pics/Satej Shinde

Mumbai Metro Line 6 (Pink Line) has cleared a major construction milestone with the successful erection of a key span over the Western Railway near Jogeshwari, as authorities explore opening the east-west corridor in phases.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Sunday completed a 42-metre steel composite span over active railway tracks within a 10-hour block. The development comes as 87.7 per cent of the corridor's civil work is complete, though crucial stretches over Western and Central Railway lines and the Kanjurmarg car shed remain pending. Officials said phased operations are being actively considered to allow early commuter access.

A 42-metre steel span erected over active WR tracks near Jogeshwari during overnight operation

"Metro Pink 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," said Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee. "At this stage, we are also actively evaluating multiple options to operationalise the corridor in a phased manner so that commuters can start benefiting at the earliest," he added.

Critical crossing completed

An MMRDA official said the operation involved constructing a pier within an active railway zone and launching a steel span over the Western Railway tracks near Jogeshwari. The work was executed within a scheduled railway block of approximately 10 hours without disrupting train services beyond approved limits.

42-metre span erected using heavy-lift cranes

Following pier construction, MMRDA erected a steel composite girder span between Pier P123 and P124.
Span details
Length: 42 metres
Weight: 168.96 metric tonnes
Structure: Composite system of main girders, cross girders, and bracing elements. The operation used 500-tonne and 600-tonne hydraulic cranes, positioned within a constrained space between tracks. The span was installed at a height of 10-12 metres above railway level, maintaining all required safety clearances.

High-risk execution in live railway zone

The milestone began with the construction of Pier P124, located between up-through and down-through railway tracks in one of Mumbai's busiest suburban corridors.
Key challenges included:
>> Limited working windows during night hours
>> Continuous train movement on adjacent tracks
>> Need for tightly controlled execution and monitoring
>> Strict adherence to railway safety protocols
Despite these constraints, the work was completed without affecting ongoing rail operations.

Project snapshot

Length: 14.5 km (fully elevated)
Stations: 13
Depot: Kanjurmarg (15.2 hectares)
Civil work completed: 87.7 per cent
Key pending work: Railway crossings, depot construction

What remains before opening

>> Completion of spans over Western and Central Railway lines
>> Construction and readiness of Kanjurmarg depot
>> Systems installation and testing
>> Final decision on phased operational plan

Corridor overview

Mumbai Metro Line 6 is a fully elevated 14.5-km corridor connecting Swami Samarth Nagar (Andheri) to Vikhroli (Eastern Express Highway), passing through key areas such as Jogeshwari, JVLR, and Powai.

Interchange network

The corridor will connect with multiple metro and rail lines:
>> Yellow Line 2A (Bangur Nagar)
>> Red Line 7 (JVLR)
>> Aqua Line 3 (Aarey)
>> Green Line 4 (Gandhi Nagar)
>> Suburban railway at Jogeshwari and Kanjurmarg
A section near Mahakali integrates a double-decker structure, with 2.5 km of metro alignment sharing a single pier with a flyover along the JVLR.

Stations on the line

>> Swami Samarth Nagar
>> Adarsh Nagar
>> Jogeshwari West
>> JVLR
>> Shyam Nagar
>> Mahakali Caves
>> SEEPZ Village
>> Saki Vihar Road
>> Rambaug
>> Powai Lake
>> IIT Powai
>> Kanjurmarg (W)
>> Vikhroli (EEH)