On 5 September 2024, STUP Consultants Pvt. Ltd. was awarded the Design Consultant (DDC) contract for the 29 km Thane Metro project by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL). This crucial contract includes detailed design consultancy services for six elevated stations, including Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagraha, Manpada, Dongripada, Vijay Nagari, Waghbil, and Waterfront.

Maha-Metro invited bids for the DDC-01 contract in August, with an estimated budget of Rs. 3.82 crore and a 36-month deadline. Five firms submitted proposals, and STUP Consultants emerged as the lowest bidder with a bid of Rs. 1.35 crore. Other bidders included LKT Engineering Consultants (Rs. 2.11 crore), Enia Design – Mahendra Raj Consultants (Rs. 3.51 crore), SYSTRA MVA Consulting (Rs. 3.75 crore), and RITES (Rs. 3.85 crore).

The Thane Metro, also known as the Thane Integral Ring Metro Project, was approved for construction in August with a budget of Rs. 12,200 crore. The project includes a 29 km single corridor with 20 elevated stations and 2 underground stations, targeted for completion by 2029.