August 12, 2025: Mumbai is set for a major boost in urban mobility with the construction of Metro Line 12, a 22.17-km fully elevated corridor that will connect Kalyan to Taloja, providing direct access to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. Work on the project began in March 2024 and is targeted for completion by December 2027, aiming to ease congestion and cut travel times across key suburban hubs.
An extension of the Orange Line from Metro Line 5 (Thane–Bhiwandi–Kalyan), Metro 12 will feature 19 stations between APMC Kalyan and Amandoot in Taloja. It is designed for seamless multimodal integration, linking with Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 at Taloja and the planned Metro Line 14 at Hedutane. Once operational, the line will reduce the current 1–1.5 hour Kalyan–Taloja road commute to just 45 minutes, saving nearly an hour each way.
Transport experts highlight that this time efficiency will boost productivity for professionals travelling to Navi Mumbai’s industrial and business zones, support regional growth, and cut road emissions in line with sustainable mobility goals. The Rs 5,865-crore project, including escalation and tax provisions, is being executed under an EPC contract valued at about Rs 2,037 crore. Foundational piling and viaduct work are already in progress.
Metro 12 will share rolling stock with Metro 5, likely deploying six-coach trains. Services will operate from 6 AM to 10 PM, with a peak-hour frequency of 5–7 minutes and off-peak intervals of 8–10 minutes. Daily ridership is projected at 2.5–2.6 lakh by 2031, rising to 3 lakh by 2041. Fares are expected to range between Rs 50 and Rs 60 for the full route.
Officials emphasise that the project will decongest roads, reduce pollution, and improve access to economic hubs, while ensuring equitable connectivity through integration with suburban rail and bus services.
Source: Urban Acres
