July 29, 2025: Mumbai is poised for a transformative leap in urban mobility, as several Metro corridors near completion and are expected to become operational in the coming months. In parallel, the Mandale Metro depot, which houses India’s largest Metro training centre, is ready for inauguration. Adding to this development is the upcoming launch of the much-anticipated ‘Mumbai One’ app, which will, for the first time, integrate 11 public transport systems, including the Mumbai suburban railway.
By the end of 2025, at least four Metro corridors are expected to partially open. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is developing a 12-line Metro network stretching 337.1 kilometres across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. At present, four lines covering 58.9 kilometres—including the 12.44 km underground Aqua Line 3—are operational. Eight more lines, spanning 165.7 kilometres, are currently under construction, while the remaining corridors are at various stages of planning or tendering.
Trial runs for the Yellow Line 2B are already underway, and MMRDA has floated tenders to facilitate the transportation of Metro coaches for the Green Line 4. The elevated extension of Line 7A, which spans 10.5 kilometres and includes eight stations, is 98 per cent complete. A 4.5-kilometre section from Dahisar to Kashigaon, linking with Lines 2A, 10 and the proposed Line 13, is expected to open by December 2025.
Similarly, the 23.64-kilometre-long Line 2B, connecting DN Nagar to Mandale via Chembur, Kurla and BKC, has completed 78% of its construction work, with trial runs already in progress. A 5.4-kilometre stretch from Mandale to Diamond Garden, with five stations, is likely to become operational by the end of the year.
Mumbai’s first underground Metro line, the 33.5-kilometre-long Aqua Line 3 with 27 stations—26 of which are underground—began partial operations on 10 May 2025, with a 9.77-kilometre segment. The remaining 11.57-kilometre stretch, connecting Cuffe Parade with Aarey, is expected to be ready by August. Civil work is 99.86% complete, with station work at 99.59% and systems installation at 92.4%. The 35.32-kilometre elevated corridor of Line 4 and 4A, which passes through Ghatkopar, Mulund and Thane and includes 30 stations, is 84.5% complete. A 10-station stretch between Gaimukh and Cadbury Junction is anticipated to open by February 2026. Due to the absence of a dedicated depot, maintenance operations will commence from Gaimukh.
The Mandale Metro depot is equipped with advanced AR/VR simulators and 12 maintenance simulator modules focused on critical subsystems such as brakes, doors and the Train Control and Management System (TCMS). It also features a full-cab driving simulator with a motion platform, performance analytics, customisable training scenarios and residential facilities. Designed in alignment with the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the centre aims to upskill the youth of Maharashtra and reduce reliance on external training institutions.
The soon-to-be-launched ‘Mumbai One’ app will offer a unified and paperless travel experience across 11 public transport services, including the Central, Western and Harbour railway lines, all Metro corridors, Monorail and buses operated by BEST, TMT, MBMT, KDMT and NMMT.
The app will enable map-based booking, single QR-code travel for multimodal trips, live service updates, SOS functionality, a city guide and location-based services. It forms part of the broader ‘Digital India’ initiative, aiming to make daily commuting smarter, faster and more convenient for millions of Mumbaikars.
Source: Mid-day
