MMRDA to Invite Tenders for Metro Line 10 by December 15 as Forest-Clearance-Dependent Project Progresses.

The Metro Line 10 project, connecting Gaimukh in Thane to Shivaji Chowk in Mira-Bhayander, is set to move forward as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) plans to begin the tender process by December 15, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said following a project review recently.

The fully elevated line, estimated to cost around ₹8,000 crore, is considered one of the most challenging metro projects in the region due to its route cutting through forest land and hilly terrain, requiring multiple environmental clearances. The alignment may involve modifying hill slopes and smoothing ghat gradients to maintain the minimum 6.5-meter clearance from the road beneath.

The project aims to significantly ease travel for commuters between Thane and Bhayander, who currently face year-round congestion on the lone Ghodbunder Highway or must take longer alternative routes via Bhiwandi, Powai, or the Dadar-Ghatkopar-Andheri rail corridor. Metro Line 10 will also form part of a loop connecting these suburbs with south Mumbai and other distant Thane neighborhoods.

During the review meeting, additional metropolitan commissioner Ashwin Kumar Mudgal, Thane municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao, and Mira-Bhayander municipal commissioner Radha Binod Sharma were present. MMRDA has asked the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation to secure the necessary permissions for land acquisition ahead of construction.

Officials emphasized that all environmental clearances must be in place before work begins to avoid project delays. Initial estimates suggest the line could be completed within three years from the start of construction.