January 2, 2026: Mumbai’s public transport network is set for a major expansion in 2026, with multiple Metro corridors and a key highway project slated to open, promising improved connectivity across the city and the wider MMR. After the inauguration of the Mumbai Metro Aqua Line between Aarey and Cuffe Parade in 2025, the coming year will see further additions as parts of four Metro lines and one extension become operational, some as early as January.
Among the most anticipated projects is Phase 1 of Metro Line 9, which extends Line 7 from Andheri–Dahisar East to Mira Bhayandar. The initial four-station stretch, covering 4.5 km up to Kashigaon, will bring metro connectivity to the city’s northern outskirts. Commuters from Mira Bhayandar will gain access to Lines 7 and 2A, along with interchanges to Lines 1 and 3. While four of the 13 stations are ready, CMRS inspections that began in December are ongoing. An opening expected in December has now shifted to January 2026, though the final date remains unclear.
Metro Line 2B is also nearing readiness, with five stations close to opening. The Mandale–Diamond Garden section may initially see lower ridership due to limited connections, though it will link to the Harbour line at Mankhurd. Once fully completed, the 23.6-km corridor will significantly strengthen east–west travel, connecting DN Nagar to Mankhurd. A second phase, from DN Nagar to Saraswat Nagar in Khar, is expected by mid-2026.
Metro Lines 4 and 4A, linking Mumbai and Thane, are expected to partially open in 2026. A 10.5-km stretch from Cadbury Junction to Gaimukh, including the Line 4A extension, is likely to open by March, with further sections following later in the year.
Metro Line 6, running along the JVLR, is targeted for full operations by mid-2026. Despite depot-related challenges, the MMRDA has planned alternative maintenance solutions. “As work on the Kanjurmarg depot and the complications around it continue, we are building 8-lane inspection pit lines alongside… These will make it possible to open the entire line in 2026, even if frequency will be restricted to every 6 minutes,” an official said.
Beyond rail, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s long-awaited ‘missing link’ is scheduled to open by March 2026. Bypassing the Lonavala ghat section, the new alignment will shorten the Khopoli–Kusgaon stretch to 13.3 km and cut travel time by about 30 minutes, marking another major milestone in regional connectivity.
