Mumbai Metro Line 6 nearing completion, but Train Procurement delayed

Mumbai, India (Metro Rail Today): While the construction of the 15.31-kilometer Mumbai Metro Line 6 (Pink Line), connecting Swami Samarth Nagar in Lokhandwala to Vikhroli, is progressing steadily and is expected to be completed by October 2024, significant delays have emerged concerning the procurement of trains and the construction of the planned car shed at Kanjurmarg.

The anticipated public launch of the line has been pushed back to 2026 due to setbacks in acquiring rolling stock, primarily attributed to technical issues and land constraints for the car shed.

The procurement of trains faced a setback when a comprehensive tender for critical components, including rolling stock, was canceled in October 2023 due to non-compliance with international procurement standards and failure to meet safety norms mandated by the commissioner of Metro railway safety and guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission. As a result, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had to re-tender the project, leading to further delays.

The MMRDA plans to procure 108 standard-gauge cars (18 rakes with six coaches each) for the Pink Line, but the actual delivery time of trains is estimated to be between six to nine months post-finalization of tenders.

Regarding the construction of the car shed at Kanjurmarg, delays have arisen due to the inadequacy of the existing 15-hectare plot. The MMRDA is in the process of acquiring an additional seven hectares of land to accommodate the depot's infrastructure. Once finalized, the depot will comprise 18 stabling lines, three inspection bays, four workshop bays, a test track, an operations control center, administrative buildings, and staff quarters. Construction is expected to commence soon and take approximately 30 months to complete.

These delays have resulted in the postponement of the entire project, with the pending civil works, including crucial crossings over railway lines, expected to prolong the completion timeline until the end of 2026.

Despite the setbacks, the Mumbai Metro Pink Line 6 boasts several salient features, including 13 stations predominantly located along the median of Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, interchanges with other metro lines, integrated ticketing systems, elevator and escalator facilities, improved footpaths with ramps for accessibility, all constructed at a cost of Rs 6,716 crore funded by the National Development Bank.

While progress is evident in the construction of Mumbai Metro Line 6, challenges in train procurement and car shed construction have led to significant delays, necessitating a revised timeline for the project's completion.