Mumbai: Metro 14 On The Cards, To Benefit Badlapur-Kanjurmarg Residents

The Maharashtra government, in collaboration with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is seriously contemplating the execution of the Mumbai Metro 14 project.

The proposed magenta line is expected to traverse through various areas including Badlapur, Ambernath, Nilje, Shil Phata, Mahape, and Ghansoli, before crossing the Thane Creek and reaching the Greater Mumbai boundary at Kanjurmarg.

The corridor is planned to have 15 stations in total, with 13 being elevated, one underground and one at grade.

The potential addition of more stations along the route hasn't been dismissed at this point.

In the current monsoon legislative assembly session, the status of this specific metro line was presented to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Recently, the development authority engaged the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) to conduct a peer review of the draft detailed project report for the magenta line.

As per the Free Press Journal report, the review will encompass various aspects such as alignment options, ridership forecasts, projected project cost, fare structure, necessary land acquisition, economic international rate of return, and financial internal rate of return to determine the project's feasibility.

The current comprehensive project report from Milan Metro, a consultant for the Municipality of Milan, suggests executing the 37.9km metro corridor project through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Nevertheless, a reassessment of the report might indicate a different approach. Insider information reveals that an economic feasibility study will be conducted before determining whether to use the PPP model or construct the project and delegate Operations and Maintenance to a private entity.

This metro line, if executed through PPP, will be the second of its kind in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The first one, Mumbai Metro 1 of Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar, is currently facing financial difficulties.

An official from MMRDA stated that "Mumbai Metro 14 will offer East-West connectivity between Mumbai and several populous regions within the MMR."

The proposed plan includes interchanges at three key locations: Metro 4 of Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadavali, Metro 6 of Swami Samarth Nagar-Jogeshwari Vikhroli-Kanjurmarg, and Kanjurmarg Railway Station.

The route also encompasses significant Transit Oriented Development nodes like Chikoli.

MMRDA's internal research estimates the Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic demand to be 54,000 daily by 2041, with a car depot planned over a 20-hectare plot in Badlapur.

The expected ridership is predicted to be 6.30 lakh in 2026, 6.50 lakh in 2031, and 7.50 lakh in 2041.