A 24-year-old infrastructure enthusiast from Kalyan has developed an independent online platform that brings information on all 21 Metro corridors planned across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) onto a single dashboard. The website tracks construction progress, project expenditure, tender details and delays, helping commuters follow the expansion of the region’s Metro network.
Shashank Ballaya, a computer engineering graduate, works in his family business while pursuing website and application development. His interest in Metro systems began during his first ride in Bengaluru in 2014. The announcement of Metro Lines 5 and 12, which are expected to improve connectivity around Kalyan, further encouraged him to monitor infrastructure developments closer to home.
From Social Media Updates to a Dedicated Website
Ballaya initially posted Metro-related updates on social media. However, the absence of a single platform providing comprehensive information on construction across the region prompted him to create one. What started as a weekend initiative focused on Metro Line 12 eventually developed into Mumbai Metro Tracker.
Available at mumbaimetrotracker.com, the platform categorises corridors according to their current status. Of the 21 routes listed, five are operational, eight are under construction, five have received approval, two remain proposed and one is at the conceptual stage.
The website also documents financial and contractual information. For example, it lists the revised estimated cost of Metro Line 5, connecting Thane and Kalyan, at approximately Rs 18,130 crore, alongside financing details, awarded contracts and construction updates.
Coverage Extends Across the MMR
The tracker includes proposed connections towards Virar, Badlapur, Kalyan, Taloja and Navi Mumbai. These include Metro Line 14 between Kanjurmarg and Badlapur, Line 13 towards Virar and Line 8 linking Mumbai’s international airport with Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Ballaya clarified that the platform is independently operated and is not associated with government agencies. “Mumbai Metro Tracker is an independent public-interest site, not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to MMRDA, MMRCL, CIDCO, MahaMetro or the state government. The map uses OpenStreetMap data. One should check official sources before making decisions,” Ballaya said in a disclaimer.
“For anyone wondering why a particular corridor is taking so long, the platform provides a starting point to examine the various stages of development. And it is not just Mumbai’s immediate suburbs. The tracker covers ambitious projects stretching towards Virar, Badlapur, Kalyan, Taloja and Navi Mumbai. Among them are the proposed Metro Line 14 between Kanjurmarg and Badlapur, Metro Line 13 towards Virar and Metro Line 8, intended to link Mumbai’s international airport with Navi Mumbai International Airport. Some of these projects remain years away from carrying passengers, but their inclusion offers a glimpse of the vast network being planned for the region,” he said.
Ballaya is also testing Commute Guardian, an offline GPS-based application designed to alert Mumbai local train passengers before they reach their destinations, with announcements available in Marathi, Hindi and English.
Source: Mid-day
