Mumbai's Metro 11: A Solution or a Real Estate Scam?

The proposed Metro 11 in Mumbai raises questions about its true purpose, environmental impact, and the real needs of commuters.

Mumbai MetroReal EstateEnvironmental ImpactPublic TransportCommutersReal EstateOct 27, 2025

Mumbai's Metro 11: A Solution or a Real Estate Scam?

Real Estate:Maximum City, Glamour City, City of Dreams, City of Struggles — Mumbai wears many names and identities. One of the world’s most populous cities, it houses a staggering 2.17 crore people in just 603 square kilometres. Its carrying capacity in terms of accommodating a workforce was exceeded a decade ago, yet the daily inflow continues. Sky-high, artificially inflated real estate prices have pushed many to the distant suburbs, making the daily commute for work or study an arduous struggle. And yet the mobility solutions that the city administration and other powers that be come up with are not only inadequate but also misplaced in many cases.

What Mumbai really needs is a focus on improving the frequency and number of trains on the most crowded routes. Close to 11 lakh people travel to Mumbai for work or to study, between Thane and Karjat alone. On average, close to 200 people die each year on this stretch, falling off overpacked trains. Stretches between Thane and extended regions like Karjat on the central line, and between Andheri and Virar on the western line, see the worst of overcrowding. These two lines reported over 50,000 deaths from 2005 to 2024 — 22,481 on the Western Railway (WR) and 29,321 on the Central Railway (CR). Kalyan, Thane, Vasai, and Borivali are the four stations with the maximum incidence of fatalities.

If not trains, what would be the alternative mode of public transport that could best serve the demands of the huge number of commuters? BEST buses. Yet, nearly two-thirds of the fleet has been depleted over the past decade. To deflect public outrage, wet-lease buses were introduced, but the average wait time is around 20 minutes on most routes. Today, like the suburban railway, BEST seems to be testing Darwin’s theory—only the fit can squeeze into or hang out of dangerously overcrowded buses.

The lack of dedicated lanes, insufficient air-conditioned buses, and an overall shortage have made commuting a daily ordeal, with women facing harassment in packed conditions. It is apparent that bus travel has been deliberately degraded to justify declaring BEST a loss-making entity, paving the way for depot lands to be handed over to real estate interests. Even Metro 3’s app excludes integration with BEST while aligning smoothly with private operators, laying bare the real agenda.

Doesn’t this insensitivity and harassment of its citizens matter to the powers that rule us? How does the government plan to cope with the backlash from daily commuters who continuously suffer?

Well, the grand lollipop (read, pacifier) is ready. Soon, the Mumbai Metro network will be complete. Roads will see less traffic, and deaths from train falls will stop.

Mumbai is currently linked by a metro network that is envisioned to connect all parts of the city. Sounds great on paper. The city needs a facelift, and this will place it on par with other global cities, which have metros. Three metro lines are already operational: Metro 1, Metro 4, and Metro 3. While empty roads and less crowded trains on all three routes remain a pipe dream, let us accept, for the sake of brevity, that it is good for the city.

Metro 6, meant to link Jogeshwari to Vikhroli, seems to be taking longer than Shahjahan took to build the Taj Mahal. As the wait for it seems to be getting longer, comes the latest entrant. Another metro line project! This one is christened the Metro 11, the Wadala-Gateway line. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) held a public hearing on August 25th, inviting citizens to voice their objections and suggestions regarding the project — perhaps a lesson from the Aarey metro car shed controversy, where MMRCL claimed there were no objections during a 2012 public hearing.

I attended the Metro 11 hearing, expecting at least a few hundred attendees in a city of over two crore people. To my shock, only eight people had registered at the desk, and just 12 attended the final hearing. Clearly, Mumbai has better things to do than scrutinise a ₹23,000 crore public project, one that will likely cross well over ₹40,000 crore.

Who will benefit from Metro 11? Metro 11 mirrors the Metro 3 model in that it is completely underground. When one studies the route as presented on the occasion, a question comes to mind immediately: for whom is this Metro being made? All along, the proposed route from Wadala-Anik to the Gateway of India in Colaba, the route passes below dense clusters of slums and empty spaces. The petroleum storage on one side and the Mazgaon Docks on the other make it practically impossible to generate a significant base of consumers who will use this line.

The project proponent used a Google Earth satellite image to explain the route. Most of them were near the slum clusters, and the presenter repeated that these areas at all these locations “will be developed later on.” This raises a basic question: when there are areas that are crying out for connectivity and being ignored, how does this project help them and others who really need it badly?

This becomes just another venture that authorities with a track record of incomplete projects and unfulfilled conditions have started anew. The harbour line railway network is well-served and has withstood the test of time, and the trains on the route from Wadala to CST are never crowded. In such a scenario, why is this project being brought in? It would be interesting to explore and understand who the stakeholders are in these slum-saturated land parcels. Which big players are entering the eastern waterfront? There is definitely more to this than meets the eye.

When questioned about the number of trees that will be slaughtered for the project, the number was an astonishing 2,300 trees. All this for an underground metro! The promise of planting new trees at or near the same locations rings hollow, especially as Metro 3 has still not kept its word on replacing the trees that were destroyed for the project.

One also has to question where they will plant new trees. It is officially accepted that there is no space to plant trees in Mumbai, as most open spaces have been taken over by construction. They could perhaps plant them at Aarey, or Sanjay Gandhi National Park or any remote place, but would that really help the microclimate of the harbour line area? Is it that easy for a resident of Anik, Sewri, to just walk 15–20 km away across to Aarey and relax in the cool shade?

At the consultation, MMRCL sheepishly issued pleas to people to find space to replace or plant trees destroyed by the project, since they have been caught trying to escape accountability.

But trees aren’t the only issue here. An underground metro project of this magnitude will also have significant environmental impacts, including soil and water contamination, noise pollution, and disruption of local ecosystems. The long-term effects on the city’s microclimate and air quality are also a cause for concern. The lack of transparency and public participation in the planning and execution of such projects further exacerbates these issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the proposed route of Metro 11?

The proposed route of Metro 11 is from Wadala-Anik to the Gateway of India in Colaba, running completely underground.

Why is there a need for better transport solutions in Mumbai?

Mumbai's population is over 2.17 crore, and the city is already beyond its carrying capacity. Daily commuters face overcrowded trains and buses, leading to significant safety and quality of life issues.

What are the environmental concerns associated with Metro 11?

The project will lead to the cutting of 2,300 trees, soil and water contamination, noise pollution, and disruption of local ecosystems. The long-term effects on the city's microclimate and air quality are also a concern.

How does the depletion of BEST buses affect daily commuters?

The depletion of BEST buses has made commuting a daily ordeal, with long wait times, lack of dedicated lanes, and insufficient air-conditioned buses. This has also led to increased harassment of women in crowded conditions.