State government approves three new metro routes for Mumbai; expected to reduce traffic congestion by 35 per cent

On July 23, Tuesday, the state government, ahead of the Assembly election approved three Metro corridors for Mumbai which will come up at an estimated cost of around ₹24,000 crore. One of the routes will offer transport services to the eastern and south Mumbai, whereas the other two routes shall serve the extended suburbs in Thane.

The decision was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led cabinet at a cabinet meeting. The three new routes will be:

Gaimukh-Shivaji Chowk Metro 10 corridor,

Wadala-CSMT Metro 11 corridor

Kalyan-Dombivli-Taloja Metro 12 corridor.

The three projects would be constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

Here's what the Metro routes will consist of:

The Wadala-GPO Metro 11 corridor

• Will be built at an estimated cost of ₹8,739 crore
• The Metro route will be 14 km long
• The route will have partly elevated and partly underground stations
• Stations: Wadala RTO, Ganesh Nagar, BPT Hospital (elevated) and Sewri Metro, Hay Bunder, Coal Bunder, Darukhana, Wadi Bunder, Clock Tower, Carnac Bunder and CSMT Metro (all underground)
• The route is expected to be completed by March 2026

The Gaimukh-Shivaji Chowk Metro 10 corridor

• Will be built at an estimated cost of ₹4,476 crore
• The Metro route will be 11 km long
• The route is expected to be completed by March 2022
• Stations: Gaimukh, Gaimukh Retibunder, Versova Chaarphata, Kashi-Mira, and Shivaji Chowk

The Kalyan-Taloja Metro 12 corridor

• Will be built at an estimated cost of ₹5,865 crore
• The Metro route will be 25 km long
• The route is expected to be completed by March 2024
• Stations: APMC Kalyan, Ganesh Nagar, Pisawali Gaon, Golwali, Dombivli MIDC, Sagaon, Sonarpada, Manpada, Hadutane, Kolegaon, Niljegaon, Wadavali, Bale, Vaklan, Turbhe, Pisawe Depot, Pisawe, and Taloja.

These new corridors are said to reduce the journey timings by 50-75 per cent compared to the journey by road. The transport service is also expected to reduce the road traffic congestion by up to 35 per cent.