August 28, 2025: Mumbai has taken another decisive step towards transforming its urban transport network with the commencement of construction on two new metro corridors. The projects, part of the city’s wider metro expansion plan, aim to ease chronic congestion, cut journey times, and provide a cleaner alternative to private vehicles while embedding sustainability into Mumbai’s long-term growth vision.
According to officials, the new corridors will improve last-mile connectivity by linking dense residential neighbourhoods with emerging commercial hubs, thereby reducing reliance on road transport that has long compromised air quality and safety. Experts emphasise that metro-based public transport is no longer a luxury but an environmental and economic necessity for the city, which continues to grapple with rising vehicular emissions, volatile fuel costs, and erratic traffic conditions.
Both corridors are being designed with modern energy-efficient features such as regenerative braking and environmentally conscious station layouts. Planners have stressed that universal accessibility will remain central, with barrier-free facilities for senior citizens and differently abled passengers, as well as gender-sensitive infrastructure.
Transport analysts point out that Mumbai’s metro expansion is about more than speed and capacity. By lowering travel stress and costs for low- and middle-income commuters, the new corridors are expected to create a more inclusive and equitable transport network. A modal shift away from cars and two-wheelers, which currently account for a large share of traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, is also anticipated.
The two corridors will complement metro lines already under development, contributing to a seamless city-wide network expected to serve millions of passengers daily. Urban planners view the expansion as central to Mumbai’s ambition of becoming a climate-smart megacity, with sustainable transport forming the backbone of economic and social growth.
Source: Urban Acres
