Mumbai: The much-anticipated Metro Line 2B (DN Nagar Andheri to Mandale in Mankhurd) which aims to link Mumbai’s western suburbs with its eastern edge, is set to begin its first trial run on a partial 5.4-kilometre stretch between Diamond Garden in Chembur and Mandale in Mankhurd from April 16 onwards.
According to sources, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is the project implementating authority, it will first conduct internal trials, which will later be followed by inspections from the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). The partial stretch is expected to be opened to Public possibly after a few months once all required certification are obtained.
This stretch, which was recently live-charged, features five metro stations: Diamond Garden, Shivaji Chowk, BSNL Metro, Mankhurd, and Mandale. These stations are expected to significantly improve east-west connectivity across Mumbai.
The first six-coach rake for Metro Line 2B, manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), was delivered to the Mandale depot in November last year.
Once complete, the fully elevated Metro Line 2B which span 23.6 km and include 20 stations will offer seamless integration with major transit networks including the Western and Eastern Express Highways, the Western and Central Railways, the Monorail, and several metro lines such as 2A (Dahisar–DN Nagar), 3 (Colaba–SEEPZ), and 4 (Wadala–Kasarvadavali).
Construction on the corridor has been underway for the past four years, missing its initial deadline of commercial operations by December 2025 due to multiple challenges including underground utility lines, heavy daytime traffic, and pandemic-related delays.
In addition, a Metro car shed is being developed on a 31.4-hectare plot at Mandale. Once fully operational, Metro Line 2B is expected to reduce current travel time across the stretch by 50% to 75%.
