Nearly nine months after trial operations were launched on Mumbai Metro Line 4, two trainsets parked along the elevated corridor in Thane have become a visible symbol of the project’s ongoing delays. Videos circulating on social media show the metro rakes stationed between Owale and Kasarvadavli stations, exposed to the elements and covered in dust as construction work on several stations remains unfinished.
The footage has reignited public criticism of the long-delayed corridor, with many commuters questioning whether the September 2025 inauguration of trial runs took place before the project was sufficiently prepared for operations.
The trains used during the trial phase have reportedly remained largely idle for months. Residents living near the route say the rakes were occasionally moved between stations until early this year but have since remained stationary.
According to Indian Express, “The rakes are in bad condition, with a thick layer of dust covering them. The least the authorities can do is keep the expensive technology under the cover of constructed metro stations,” said Raj Sudhakar, a 43-year-old mathematics professor who lives in a building overlooking the Metro tracks along Ghodbunder Road. “Till February, the rakes were being moved from one station to another. But since March, they have been left out in the open.”
When trial runs were flagged off, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had indicated that the initial section between Vijay Garden and Gaimukh would open by December 2025, while the broader Phase 1 stretch from Cadbury Junction to Gaimukh was expected to begin operations by April 2026. Subsequent projections from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) suggested the line would open during the first quarter of 2026. Both deadlines have now elapsed.
Observers note that several stations are still undergoing construction and finishing work. According to Indian Express, “All the stations are incomplete,” said Sudhakar. “At Kasarvadavli, station construction work is still ongoing. Flooring has been completed at some stations, but roofs, facades and other finishing work are nowhere near completion. Work is progressing slowly and I doubt the line will start before year-end.”
Although track-related infrastructure is largely in place, station completion and mandatory safety certification from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) are still required before passenger services can commence. Officials have previously indicated that the approval process alone could take up to two months after construction is completed.
The delay has added to commuter frustration, particularly along the congested Ghodbunder Road corridor, where Metro Line 4 is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Mumbai and Thane. While recent housekeeping tenders for trainsets suggest preparations for future operations are underway, authorities have yet to announce a revised opening schedule. Until then, the idle metro rakes remain a reminder of a project still awaiting its commercial launch.
Source: Financial Express
