Maharashtra Unveils Major Underground Metro Line from Wadala to Gateway of India

The Maharashtra government has announced a fully underground metro corridor connecting Wadala to the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The project, estimated to cost around INR 23,487 crore, will be developed as Metro Line 11 and was announced during the presentation of the state Budget 2026-27 in the legislative assembly by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

According to the Chief Minister, the proposed corridor will improve connectivity to South Mumbai, an area that currently has limited metro access compared to other parts of the city. The underground alignment will connect Wadala with the Gateway of India and is expected to ease travel for commuters moving between central and southern parts of Mumbai.

The government also indicated that the metro corridor is planned to be extended in the future from Dharavi to Bandra suburban railway station and Bandra Terminus. This extension is expected to create better integration between the metro network and the suburban rail system as well as long-distance railway services operating from Bandra Terminus.

The proposed Metro Line 11 is part of a larger plan by the state government to significantly expand urban transport infrastructure across Maharashtra. The government has set a target to develop around 1,200 km of metro rail network and more than 6,000 km of expressways across the state by 2047 in order to improve connectivity between cities and strengthen urban transport systems.

Progress on metro construction across major cities was also highlighted during the budget announcement. The state government stated that work on about 490 km of metro corridors has already been taken up across Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. Out of this, nearly 173 km of metro routes are currently operational and serving commuters.

Authorities further indicated that an additional 50 km of metro lines are expected to become operational over the coming year. At the same time, around 165 km of new metro corridors are planned to be completed by 2029 as part of the ongoing expansion of the network across the state.

Alongside the metro project, the government also provided an update on an underground road tunnel project connecting Orange Gate on the Eastern Freeway to Marine Drive in South Mumbai. The Chief Minister informed the assembly that the launching shaft required for the tunnel construction has already been completed.

The underground road tunnel is planned to reduce travel time between eastern parts of Mumbai and the southern business district by providing a direct underground route. According to the government's update, the project is targeted to be completed by December 2028.

Another metro project announced during the budget relates to Navi Mumbai. The state government has proposed Navi Mumbai Metro Line 2 between Taloja and Khandeshwar with an estimated project cost of around INR 5,575 crore. This corridor is expected to improve connectivity within Navi Mumbai and support the growing residential and commercial development in the satellite city.

Infrastructure planning outlined by the government also includes the development of underground tunnel networks in both Mumbai and Pune. These projects are part of a broader effort to address increasing travel demand, improve traffic flow, and strengthen long-term urban mobility planning.

Over the past several years, Mumbai has seen steady expansion of its metro network, including both elevated and underground corridors. Several metro lines have already opened in phases, while many others remain under construction across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The newly proposed Metro Line 11 is expected to further expand metro access into South Mumbai, which has historically depended mainly on suburban railways and road transport.