Thane Integral Ring Metro Project Gains Momentum As Maha Metro Receives Design Proposals

Within weeks of the union cabinet approving the Rs 12,200 crore Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail project, the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) has received design proposals from five consultants for a crucial segment of the project.

The proposed metro line will span 29 kilometres, with the initial design focusing on an 8-kilometre stretch in Thane West.

Five firms have submitted proposals to design the first section of the circular metro corridor, which includes six stations over 8 kilometres. These firms are RITES Limited, Navi Mumbai-based STUP Consultants, New Delhi-based LKT Engineering Consultants, and two French companies through their Indian subsidiaries, Enia Design and Systra MVA Consulting.

The project, which has been in the planning stages for seven years, was originally under the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) but has since been transferred to Maha Metro for execution.

"The selected firm will be responsible for designing the stations, and the entire 29-kilometre route will be divided into 3 to 4 sections for construction efficiency," said Shravan Hardikar, Managing Director of Maha Metro.

The six stations in the initial design phase are Waterfront (Hiranandani Estate), Waghbil, Vijay Nagari, Dongripada, Manpada, and Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha.

The route will traverse Thane's most densely populated areas, including Wagle Estate, Manpada, Waghbil, Balkum, Rabodi, and Thane Railway Station. These areas have seen significant development over the past decade and are still transforming.

Geotechnical investigations are expected to commence shortly, and bids for designing the remaining 14 stations will be issued soon, according to Hardikar.

The project will be jointly funded by the governments of India and Maharashtra, with additional financing from multilateral development banks and bilateral funding agencies.

The Thane Integral Ring Metro is expected to be operational by 2029. In addition to serving as a key transit route within Thane, the metro will act as a feeder to the upcoming Mumbai Metro Line 4, connecting Gaimukh to Wadala via LBS Road, reports Times Of India.

Studies predict a daily ridership of 6.47 lakh passengers by 2029, growing to 7.61 lakh by 2035, and reaching 8.72 lakh by 2045.