The Mumbai Metro Line 5 is progressing towards completion, with operations on the Thane–Bhiwandi stretch expected to commence by January 2027. According to officials, construction work on this section is likely to be finished by December 2026.
The timeline was reviewed during a recent joint inspection of the project, attended by Mahesh Choughule, who confirmed the expected launch schedule. However, he noted that a final decision is yet to be taken on whether the Bhiwandi–Kalyan extension will be developed as an underground or elevated corridor, which could influence the overall timeline.
Ahead of the inspection, a high-level meeting was held at the Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation headquarters under the chairmanship of Mayor Narayan Chaudhary. The meeting was attended by Municipal Commissioner Anmol Sagar, along with officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and metro authorities. Discussions focused on project progress, supporting infrastructure, and traffic management strategies.
Officials later reviewed construction activity along the Anjurphata to Dhamankar Naka stretch and instructed teams to accelerate pending works. The corridor is expected to play a key role in easing congestion in Bhiwandi while offering a dependable public transport alternative for commuters.
During the review, Choughule also highlighted the need to address related civic concerns, including sanitation in areas surrounding metro stations and road development along widened corridors.
According to MMRDA officials, approximately Rs 3,771 crore will be required to complete allied infrastructure works, which are planned to be executed in three phases. Mayor Chaudhary suggested that metro authorities should ensure cleanliness in operational zones, while Commissioner Sagar pointed to potential revenue generation through advertisement hoardings within metro premises.
Source: Swarajya
