Mumbai: Mumbai Metro Red Line 9 is reportedly set to begin the trial run of Thane's first-ever Metro rail this week, marking a major milestone in the city's transport infrastructure. The trial follows the successful energisation of the overhead traction wires on Saturday, signalling readiness for dynamic testing. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to inaugurate the trial run, marking a major step in improving regional connectivity.
Metro 9: Key Connect For Western Suburbs
Metro Line 9 is an extension of the Red Line 7, which runs from Andheri East to Dahisar East. This new line will stretch further from Dahisar to Mira-Bhayandar, offering a seamless Metro link from Andheri (Western Express Highway) to Kashimira in the first phase, and eventually up to Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium in Bhayandar (West) during the second phase.
Mumbai Metro 9 stations | Screengrab/ https://www.mmmocl.co.in/
The 13.581-km-long Metro Line 9 comprises both elevated (11.386 km) and underground (2.195 km) sections and will eventually include 10 stations. In the initial phase, four stations, Dahisar, Pandurang Wadi, Miragaon and Kashigaon, will become operational. The remaining stations, including Sai Baba Nagar, Meditiya Nagar, Shahid Bhagat Singh Garden and Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium, will be completed in subsequent phases.
Ahead of the trials, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) issued a safety advisory last week, cautioning the public to stay clear of the Metro Line 9 corridor between Dahisar and Kashigaon due to the live 25,000-volt overhead wires. Full-scale dynamic trials will now commence, testing all major systems, train movement, signalling, communications, and safety protocols, in preparation for public use.
Kashimira station, located just 1.4 km from Mira Road’s Western Railway station, will act as a key intermodal hub. MMRDA Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee stressed the authority’s strategy of phased commissioning. “Instead of waiting for entire corridors, we’re prioritising opening ready sections. This allows us to deliver safe, modern, and sustainable transport quickly,” he said. “Metro Line 9 reflects our vision of ‘Mumbai in Minutes’, fast, seamless, and reliable connectivity for all,” he said as quoted by Mid-day.
Once operational, Metro Line 9 will majorly ease commuting woes in Mumbai’s western suburbs, slashing travel time by 50 per cent to 75 per cent, depending on road conditions. It will also link with the Western Express Highway, Western Railway, Metro Line 2A (Dahisar to D N Nagar), and Metro Line 7, forming a well-integrated transport network.
By 2031, daily ridership on this line is projected to hit 11.12 lakh, making it a vital part of Mumbai’s growing Metro system and a major boost to public transportation in the region.
