"The government needs to take up work on Metro connecting to Mumbai along the corridors of the MMR. Work on the Mumbai network is happening on priority, and areas like Badlapur, Ambernath and Asangaon need to be brought under the Metro network linking them to Mumbai," says commuter
The Metro Green Line in Thane West. Pics/Sahil Pednekar
The local train network in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) beyond Thane is saturated, and the need of the hour is to quickly create alternatives for commuters. Passenger associations have stressed the need to finish the Metro network linking the MMR to Mumbai and consider a rapid rail transit system and wider Metro network like the one that serves both Delhi and its adjoining satellite cities.
“The government needs to take up work on Metro connecting to Mumbai along the corridors of the MMR. Work on the Mumbai network is happening on priority, and areas like Badlapur, Ambernath and Asangaon need to be brought under the Metro network linking them to Mumbai. That would be the only alternative,” Rajesh Mithwala, a commuter, said.
“Mumbai and MMR need to be better connected,” another commuter, Rajesh Waghela, said. “The government should consider the Metro rail corridor almost parallel to the suburban corridor, say Cuffe Parade/Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to Kalyan /Titwala and Cuffe Parade to Virar via Churchgate, Tardeo, Worli. If Delhi NCR can have an extensive Metro network and rapid rail with coverage similar to Delhi suburban railways, why can’t Mumbai have one? The government consider a rapid rail transit system from Mulund/Thane to Kasara and from Borivli to Dahanu. A Metro or rapid rail corridor from Khopoli to Virar/Dahanu via Karjat, Panvel, Taloja, Nilaje and Bhiwandi is needed,” Arpan Mitra, a commuter, said.
Status of MMR Metro lines
Line 4: Work on the 10-km section from Thane to Kasarvadavli, which comprises 10 stations, is nearing completion.
Line 4A: Work on the 2.7-km line, between Kasarvadavli and Gaimukh, which comprises two stations, is nearing completion. Train trials begin in August.
Line 5: The vital 24.9-km stretch comprises 15 stations and links Thane to Kalyan via Bhiwandi. The 11.9-km Thane-Bhiwandi section comprising six stations will be completed by December 2026, and the Bhiwandi-Kalyan one will be finished by June 2029.
Line 9: The project connects Dahisar to Mira Bhayander. Its first phase, a 4.5-km section with four stations, will be commissioned by the year-end. The second one, a 4.6-km section comprising four stations between Kashigaon and Mira Bhayander, will be commissioned by December 2026.
Line 10: Tendering is in progress for this line, which links Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk in Mira Road.
Line 12: Work has started on the line last year with decent progress.
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