Mumbai To Get New Metro Corridors, ₹47,000-Crore Thane Ring Line Cleared

Maharashtra has pressed the accelerator on its urban transport overhaul. At a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, the state signed off on two new metro lines in Mumbai and Thane, a fast-track suburban rail expansion for Pune, and a high-speed road link to the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The combined cost: tens of thousands of crores, marking one of the most ambitious infrastructure pushes in recent memory.

Mumbai Metro Line-11: Wadala To Gateway Of India

According to Hindustan Times, the highlight of the Mumbai Metro approvals is Metro Line-11, a ₹23,487 crore corridor stretching 17.51 km from Wadala’s Anik Depot all the way to the Gateway of India. It is not just another extension, as this line will cut through dense neighbourhoods like Nagpada and Bhendi Bazaar before opening into South Mumbai’s historic waterfront.

Designed and operated by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), the line is being pitched as a game-changer for South Mumbai’s choked roads. Crucially, it will knit into the existing network, linking up with Metro 3 (the Aqua Line running from Aarey to Cuffe Parade), Metro 4 (Wadala–Thane–Kasarvadavali), the Monorail at Wadala, and railway junctions such as Byculla and CSMT.

Metro Lines: From Where To Where

Thane Ring Metro: In Thane, a long-discussed Mumbai Metro route idea finally has a green light. A 29-km circular metro is to be built by the Thane Municipal Corporation for ₹12,200 crore. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who also heads the state’s urban development department, has been a vocal backer of the project. For Thane’s commuters, long used to crawling through relentless traffic, the ring line offers a much-needed breather.

Thane-NMIA Elevated Expressway: Airport access was another focus. The cabinet cleared a six-lane elevated road connecting Thane and Mira-Bhayander directly with the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Spread over 25 km and dotted with six interchanges, the ₹6,430 crore road will slice travel time from an hour and a half to about 30 minutes. CIDCO has been tasked with executing the project, which is seen as critical for northern MMR’s connectivity.

Pune-Lonavala Rail Corridor: For Pune, the state has signed off on a third and fourth rail line between Pune and Lonavala. The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation will build the ₹5,100 crore project, aimed at untangling congestion on one of the region’s busiest commuter routes. Faster trains and more frequency are the immediate promises.

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Metro Expansions In Pune And Nagpur

Beyond rail, Pune is set for a sweeping metro upgrade. The government has approved fresh links from Pimpri–Chinchwad to Nigdi and Swargate to Katraj, plus extensions from Vanaz–Chandani Chowk and Ramwadi–Wagholi. A new Line 4 (Hadapsar–Kharadi–Hadapsar) has also been cleared, along with sub-corridors on the Swargate–Katraj stretch and Nal Stop to Warje–Manikbagh.

Nagpur, meanwhile, will see its Metro Phase-2 move ahead, coupled with a ring road project and a new international business township, signalling the city’s push toward becoming a commercial hub, as stated by Hindustan Times. 

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From the heritage heart of South Mumbai to the suburban sprawl of Thane, the Pune–Lonavala Metro, and Nagpur’s planned business hub, Wednesday’s cabinet decisions sketch the blueprint for a far more connected state.

Cover Image Courtesy: gannu03/Wikipedia