"Cabinet Approves ₹12,200 Crore Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project"

The Union Cabinet has approved the development of the 29-km Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project in Maharashtra, which will feature 22 stations and a total investment of ₹12,200 crore. This project will construct a metro line encircling the west side of Thane city, with 26 km of the route elevated and 3 km underground.

The development costs will be equally shared by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra, with additional funding from bilateral agencies. The project is anticipated to be operational by 2029.

Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd will oversee the project, which is already in the pre-bid phase. Tender documents are being prepared, and contracts will soon be open for bidding.

The new metro line is expected to provide a significant boost to daily commuters, including students and office workers, by offering faster and more economical transportation. The project is projected to handle daily ridership of 6.47 lakh in 2029, 7.61 lakh in 2035, and 8.72 lakh by 2045.

Thane, known for its rapid growth and emerging industrial and commercial hubs, currently faces transportation challenges due to its dense population of over 30 lakh residents. The metro line aims to alleviate these issues by improving connectivity and reducing congestion on narrow roads.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology, highlighted the project's significance, noting that India has become the third-largest in the world for metro length, a significant increase from five cities with metro systems a decade ago.

ET