Commuters travelling across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar are expected to benefit from faster and improved metro connectivity after approval was granted for the extended phase of Mumbai Metro Line 5A, which will increase the total corridor length to over 34 km.
According to an update shared by AIR News Mumbai on social media, approval has been given for the extended phase of the Metro P5 project in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), aimed at providing “comfortable and rapid travel.” With the extension, the total corridor length has now crossed 34 km, making it the largest metro corridor in the region.
Earlier in April, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced that works worth Rs 18,130.55 crore had been approved for Mumbai Metro Line 5A (Phase I and II). Sharing details of the project, Fadnavis stated that the 34.21-km corridor with 19 stations would “enhance connectivity across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar” and benefit nearly 69 lakh residents.
The Metro Line 5A extension forms part of the under-construction Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro Line 5 project. According to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) documents, the extension will run from Durgadi in Kalyan to Ulhasnagar, covering 11.829 km through seven elevated stations — Durgadi, Khadakpada, Bhoirwadi, Shanti Nagar, Shivaji Chowk, Shivaji Path and Ulhasnagar.
MMRDA described the extension as a key connectivity project linking rapidly growing urban centres such as Kalyan, Dombivli and Ulhasnagar with the wider metro network.
The corridor will also provide interchange connectivity with Metro Line 12 (Kalyan-Taloja) at Kalyan station and the Central Railway suburban network at Kalyan Junction, improving access towards Navi Mumbai and Taloja.
According to authorities, the larger Metro Line 5 route will pass through major locations including Kapurbawdi, Balkum, Kalher, Bhiwandi, Rajnoli and Temghar before extending towards Ulhasnagar. The project is expected to reduce road congestion, lower fuel consumption and ease pressure on Central Railway suburban services.
Fadnavis had also stated that the corridor would help reduce travel time by nearly 40-50% while providing air-conditioned and more efficient public transport connectivity across the eastern Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Source: Financial Express
