Thane Metro’s Ring Line Approved by Central Government

India’s Central Government’s Cabinet on Friday officially approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of 29 km Thane Metro project with an estimated total cost of Rs. 12,200 crore.

Thane Metro is officially known as Thane Integral Ring Metro Project and will be executed by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL or MahaMetro) with a 2029 deadline.

Its single line will loop around Thane city and comprise of a 26 km elevated route with 20 stations and a 3 km underground twin tunnel section with 2 underground stations. The line will have passenger interchange facilities to Mumbai Metro’s 32.32 km Line-4 (Green Line), 24.9 km Line-5 (Orange Line), and the Central Railways’ Thane Station.

Per the government’s PIB release, the project would result in total daily ridership on the metro corridors for the years 2029, 2035 and 2045 by 6.47 Lakh, 7.61 lakh & 8.72 lakh passengers respectively.

I haven’t seen a detailed funding plan for this project, but it would typically involve equal equity from the central and state governments with part funding from institutional / bilateral agencies.

Earlier this month, MahaMetro invited bids to appoint a Detailed Design Consultant (DDC) for 6 elevated stations between Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagraha and Waterfront. This section to me appears to be the “Priority Corridor” of the line – essentially the first section where work will start and end.

The current technical bid opening date is August 24 and I expect a DDC for those 6 stations to be appointed by November. But prior to that we might see a civil tender notice for viaduct construction works when designs by MahaMetro are ready. At this point I reckon the start of basic ground work is easily at least 12 months away.

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– TMRG