The Maharashtra government has finalised plans for the Bhiwandi-Kalyan stretch of Mumbai Metro Line 5, with a five-kilometer section set to go underground to minimise displacement of residents and businesses. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the move, following nearly six years of delays since the project’s groundbreaking in December 2018.

TCL has been tasked with preparing the feasibility report, after which construction will accelerate. Metro Line 5, spanning 24.9 km between Thane, Bhiwandi, and Kalyan, is crucial for improving connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The first phase from Thane to Dhamankar Naka in Bhiwandi is 80% complete, while the second phase has faced setbacks due to cost escalations and rehabilitation issues.

To protect 735 buildings from demolition, a three-km underground section was approved in March 2022, raising the project cost to Rs 17.27 billion. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has now set a new completion deadline of March 31, 2025.

Once operational, Metro Line 5 will integrate with Metro Line 4 (Wadala-Kasarvadavali), the proposed Metro Line 12 (Kalyan-Taloja), and the Central Railway network, cutting travel time by up to 75% and significantly easing commuter movement across the region.

(timesproperty)