June 23, 2025: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has officially been appointed as the nodal agency for planning and executing a Multimodal Transport Hub (MMTH) as part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). The decision was formalised through a government resolution issued on June 18, following a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on April 21.
The proposed MMTH aims to bring together Mumbai’s metro, suburban rail, bus networks, and non-motorised transport under one unified system. It will enable seamless travel across Dharavi—one of the city’s most densely populated yet poorly connected areas. MMRDA will work closely with the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority and other transport bodies to prepare a detailed design and execution plan.
The hub is set to improve east-west and north-south connectivity by offering convenient links to both Sion (Central Railway) and Mahim (Western Railway) stations, located on either side of the redevelopment zone.
Plans also include a second Metro station in Dharavi. Alongside the under-construction Metro Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ), the proposed extension of Metro Line 11 (Wadala-CSMT) is likely to continue westward, linking with Metro Line 3 at Dharavi. This would transform the area into a key interchange node within Mumbai’s expanding transit grid.
The Rs 16,000 crore Metro Line 11 project, led by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), includes stations near Sion and within Dharavi itself, according to a Times of India report.
To support bus operations, the DRP also proposes a modern BEST depot. In return, 12 acres currently occupied by Dharavi and Kalakilla depots in Sion East will be repurposed for the MMTH.
The hub will also feature pedestrian pathways, feeder buses, and cycling infrastructure. “The intent is to build a future-ready mobility hub, not just a station,” an official stated.
Source: The Daily Jagran
