Mumbai’s Metro-1 line has undergone a significant operational shift, as the short-loop shuttle service between Andheri and Ghatkopar has been discontinued by Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL). The move has been made just three months after the service was introduced, and it was announced that from June 16, all trains would be run along the entire Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route.
The short-loop initiative, which had been launched in March, was designed to tackle overcrowding during peak hours and improve accessibility at high-traffic stations. However, the intended benefits were not realized, and the service has now been shelved. According to internal assessments, it was determined that footfall at some stations—including Versova, DN Nagar, and Azad Nagar—was significantly lower than the corridor average, with only about 61,000 passengers recorded at these locations daily, compared to 4.55 lakh across the full stretch.
To manage the overall passenger load more effectively, a revision to train scheduling is being implemented. The interval between metro trains, referred to as headway, is being further reduced—from 205 seconds to 200 seconds—starting Monday. The change is expected to enhance punctuality and provide a faster commute during busy hours.
The frequency on the Andheri-Ghatkopar segment had previously been adjusted under the shuttle plan, reducing intervals from 220 to 205 seconds. Despite these measures, congestion persisted, prompting the current overhaul. It has been suggested by local commuters that instead of modifying service patterns, the length of the trains could be increased. A commuter from Andheri, Dhaval Shah, stated that the present four-car trains are often overcrowded and that six-car trains might offer a more sustainable solution.
Since it began operation in June 2014, Metro-1 has played a key role in Mumbai’s urban transit. An average of 4.5 to 5 lakh commuters use the line daily, and a total of over 1.11 billion passenger trips have been recorded in the past 11 years. With 444 trips conducted on weekdays, Metro-1 remains one of the city’s busiest transit corridors.
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