The Mumbai Metro network has moved a step closer to expansion after the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) granted safety clearance for the rolling stock proposed for Metro Lines 4 and 4A.
The approval has been issued to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL). However, passenger services can begin only after the completion of other mandatory statutory and safety clearances.
Initial Operations May Begin Without Dedicated Depot
Metro 4 and 4A may become the first Mumbai Metro corridor to begin passenger operations without its dedicated car depot being fully ready. The planned Mogharpada depot on Ghodbunder Road in Thane is still under development.
Until the depot is completed, Gaimukh Metro Station will function as an interim facility for train stabling and maintenance. A maintenance pit has been built at the station, which has two island platforms and four tracks. Two tracks will support passenger operations, while the remaining two will be used for stabling and servicing.
Six Rakes Planned for First Phase
The initial service is expected to use six six-car metro rakes. However, the trainsets ordered specifically for Metro 4 and 4A have not yet been delivered.
As an interim arrangement, BEML-manufactured trains currently based at Charkop Depot and operating on Metro Lines 2A, 7 and 9 are likely to be deployed on the new corridor. These Made-in-India rakes had earlier received safety approval for Mumbai’s western suburban routes.
L&T, Alstom to Supply 39 Trainsets
MMRDA awarded the rolling stock and signalling contracts to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Alstom in February 2025. The agreement covers 39 driverless six-car trainsets, comprising 234 coaches. The new trains will require fresh CMRS certification before entering passenger service.
The 35.2-km Metro 4 and 4A corridor will connect Wadala, Ghatkopar, Kasarvadavali and Gaimukh. The proposed first phase covers 10.5 km between Gaimukh and Cadbury Junction and includes 10 stations.
Trial runs began on September 22, 2025, initially covering the Gaimukh-Govaniwada-Kasarvadavali-Vijay Garden section.
The latest clearance marks another key milestone for the project, which is expected to strengthen connectivity across Thane and the Ghodbunder Road corridor.
Source: Metro Rail Today
