Thane's Metro Line 4: Trial Runs to Begin in September

Big news for Thane commuters! Mumbai Metro Line 4 is gearing up to make travel a whole lot easier. Trial runs are set to kick off in September, with the goal of having the metro fully operational by December. This project is a huge step toward easing traffic and connecting more parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. According to Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, things are moving along quickly to meet these important deadlines.

Mumbai Metro Line 4 Details

Great news for commuters in Mumbai! The new Metro Line 4, a 32.3-km elevated corridor, is on its way to make travel much faster and easier.This "Green Line" will connect Wadala to Kasarvadavali and is designed to cut travel time between these two points by more than half, from the current 60-75 minutes down to a quick 30-40 minutes. Wiith 32 stations, the line will run along the Eastern Expressway and LBS road, providing a major boost to connectivity for popular areas like Ghatkopar, Bhandup, Mulund, and Teen Hath Naka.

Station List

Here is a list of the stations along the Mumbai Metro Line 4 and its extension, Line 4A:

Mumbai Metro Line 4 Stations

The stations on Line 4 are: Bhakti Park, Wadala TT, Anik Nagar Bus Depot, Siddharth Colony, Garodia Nagar, Pant Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Shreyas Cinema, Godrej Company, Vikhroli Metro, Surya Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Naval Housing, Bhandup Mahapalika, Bhandup Metro, Shangrila, Sonapur, Mulund Fire Station, Mulund Naka, RTO Thane, Mahapalika Marg, Cadbury Junction, Majiwada, Kapurbawdi, Manpada, Tikuji-ni-wadi, Dongripada, Vijay Garden, Kasarvadavali

Mumbai Metro Line 4A Stations

The Line 4A extension includes these stations: Kasarvadavali, Gowniwada and Gaimukh

This metro line will also have interchange facilities at several stations, making it easier to connect to other metro lines and public transportation.

Project Status and Construction Progress

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has hit a major milestone, with the project now 84.5% complete. A big step forward was the successful installation of a massive 58-meter, 450-tonne steel span over the Pantnagar-Ghatkopar bus stand in Ghatkopar East, which is crucial for finishing the viaduct. Despite some previous setbacks from land acquisition challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, the current progress is very promising, and it looks like the December launch target is well within reach.

Funding and Costs

The Mumbai Metro Line 4 project is set to cost a substantial ₹14,549 crore, with funding primarily secured through a loan agreement with the German Development Bank. To make it easier for people to get to and from the metro stations, an additional ₹535 crore has been set aside for multi-modal integration. This will help with "last-mile connectivity" at all 32 stations. Contracts for various parts of the project have also been awarded. Companies like Aurionpro Solutions Ltd will be handling the Automatic Fare Collection system, while Eagle Infra India Ltd has been tasked with supplying pre-engineered structures.

Challenges and Controversies

The project has definitely had its share of bumps in the road, which is pretty common for something of this scale. Early on, the construction faced some legal delays due to land acquisition challenges and petitions filed with the Bombay High Court. Another point of discussion has been the decision to remove two stations, Suman Nagar and Amar Mahal, from the initial plans. This was done to save costs and because of space constraints, and it's something that has been a concern for some of the local residents. On top of that, the team has had to tackle the complex engineering of building an elevated corridor over some of the city's busiest streets and most crowded neighborhoods.

Impact on Commuters

Once finished, Metro Line 4 will make travelling much easier and more affordable for thousands of people every day.

The new metro line will provide a fast, direct way to travel, helping to ease traffic on busy roads and offering a complete travel solution from start to finish. Plus, the project includes a local metro network for Thane that will connect with the main line, making local trips even more convenient.

Future Extensions

The Metro Line 4A extension is currently in progress, designed to connect Kasarvadavali to Gaimukh. This new section will add 2.7 kilometers to the existing network, at an estimated cost of ₹949 crore. Once finished, the combined Line 4 and 4A corridor will create one of the longest metro lines in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, stretching all the way from Wadala to Gaimukh. This is great news for commuters, as it will also be integrated with other lines, like Metro Line 10, making the entire public transport system more connected and easier to use.