Mumbai's Transport Overhaul: Real Solutions or Hidden Agenda?

The proposed Metro 11 project in Mumbai raises questions about its real estate gains, environmental impact, and the neglect of commuter needs. Does the city really need this new metro line, or is it a cover for other interests?

MumbaiMetro 11Real EstateEnvironmental ImpactCommutersReal Estate MumbaiOct 27, 2025

Mumbai's Transport Overhaul: Real Solutions or Hidden Agenda?

Real Estate Mumbai: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 better transport from the outskirts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, such as Karjat, Virar, and other extended regions. 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. This underlines a crying need for better transport from the outskirts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, such as Karjat, Virar, etc., into Mumbai. Common sense and logic dictate that the authorities must prioritise improving the frequency and number of trains on these routes. Compared to the metro, the cost would be minimal.

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 Metro: Unclear Rationale

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.

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.

Environmental Impact

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.

Not Just Trees

But trees aren’t the only issue here. An

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the proposed Metro 11 project in Mumbai?

The Metro 11 project is a new metro line in Mumbai that is planned to connect Wadala to the Gateway of India. It is an underground project with a projected cost of ₹23,000 crore.

Why is there criticism about the Metro 11 project?

Critics argue that the project focuses on real estate gains rather than addressing the needs of daily commuters. They also point out the environmental impact, particularly the destruction of 2,300 trees.

What are the environmental concerns associated with the Metro 11 project?

The project is expected to destroy 2,300 trees, and there are concerns about the lack of space to replant them in Mumbai. The environmental impact on the microclimate of the harbour line area is also a significant concern.

How does the Metro 11 project affect commuters in Mumbai?

Critics argue that the project does not address the overcrowded and dangerous conditions on existing train lines and bus routes. Instead, it seems to prioritize areas that are already well-served by the harbour line railway network.

What other public transport issues does Mumbai face?

Mumbai faces issues such as overcrowded trains, long wait times for buses, and a lack of dedicated bus lanes. The BEST bus fleet has also been depleted, making daily commutes difficult and unsafe, especially for women.