Maharashtra plans ₹4,500 crore Metro Corridor to connect Thane, Mumbra, Diva and Dombivli

Mumbai, India (Rail & Metro Today): Commuters travelling between Thane, Mumbra, Diva and Dombivli could soon get a new rapid transit option, with the Maharashtra government examining a proposed 9.6-km metro corridor aimed at improving connectivity across the rapidly growing eastern suburbs of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The proposed corridor is being planned as an additional public transport link along one of the busiest stretches of the Mumbai suburban railway network. The project is expected to provide an alternative travel option for commuters while creating interchange opportunities with suburban rail, the upcoming Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor and Mumbai Metro Line 12.

9.6-km Metro Corridor to Improve Regional Connectivity

According to the proposal currently under examination, the metro corridor would connect Thane, Mumbra, Diva and potentially Kopar/Dombivli. The alignment is expected to comprise approximately seven to eight stations, although the station locations and final alignment are yet to be finalised.

The project is currently estimated to cost around ₹4,500 crore.

The proposed metro is planned to run underground between Thane and Mumbra, before transitioning to an elevated alignment from Mumbra towards Diva and Kopar. The initial proposal envisaged the corridor terminating at Diva, while an extension towards Kopar remains under consideration.

The final alignment will depend on the ongoing technical and feasibility studies.

Multiple Transport Modes to be Integrated

One of the key advantages of the proposed corridor is its potential to create a multimodal transport network across the region.

The line is expected to provide connections with the Mumbai suburban railway network, while also facilitating integration with the upcoming Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project and Metro Line 12.

Such integration could enable commuters to shift between different modes of transport rather than depending entirely on suburban trains for journeys between Thane, Mumbra, Diva and Dombivli.

The Thane–Diva–Dombivli belt has witnessed rapid residential and economic growth over the past several years, resulting in increasing pressure on existing transport infrastructure.

Maha Metro Conducting Surveys

The proposed project is still at an early planning stage. Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) is expected to undertake the project, while surveys and preliminary studies are currently being conducted along the proposed corridor.

The surveys are expected to continue over the coming months and will help determine the technical feasibility, alignment, station locations, construction requirements and projected passenger demand.

A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is expected to be prepared by the end of 2026 or early 2027, subject to completion of the ongoing studies.

Potential Alternative to Congested Suburban Rail Route

The proposed metro could become particularly important for commuters travelling through the Thane–Mumbra–Diva–Dombivli corridor, where the suburban railway network handles extremely high passenger volumes.

By creating a dedicated metro connection, the project could distribute passenger demand across multiple transport modes and provide improved connectivity to residential areas, employment centres and other regional transport hubs.

If the project receives approval after the completion of feasibility studies and DPR preparation, the 9.6-km Thane–Mumbra–Diva–Kopar Metro corridor could emerge as an important missing link in the evolving MMR transport network.

The project, however, remains under study, and its final alignment, station configuration, cost, implementation timeline and extension to Kopar/Dombivli are yet to be approved.