Mumbai: In a key step toward transforming Dharavi’s urban mobility landscape, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been appointed the nodal agency to plan and develop a state-of-the-art Multimodal Transport Hub (MMTH) under the ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). The appointment was reportedly formalised through a government resolution issued on June 18, following a high-level meeting chaired by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on April 21.
The proposed transport hub is envisioned as a seamless integration point for metro, suburban rail, bus services and non-motorised transit such as walking and cycling. Designed to serve one of Mumbai’s most densely populated and underserved neighbourhoods, the MMTH aims to ease the movement of thousands of daily commuters passing through Dharavi.
MMRDA has been tasked with coordinating with the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority and other key transport agencies to draft a detailed layout and execution strategy. The transport hub will provide convenient access to both Sion station on Central Railway and Mahim station on Western Railway, strategic nodes that sit on either side of the 259-hectare redevelopment zone.
As part of this comprehensive plan, authorities are exploring the feasibility of adding a second metro station within Dharavi. In addition to the under-construction Metro Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz), an extension of Metro Line 11 (Wadala-CSMT) is also being proposed. Sources said the new alignment could extend westward from Wadala to connect with Metro Line 3 at Dharavi, creating a crucial interchange for north-south and east-west connectivity.
The Rs 16,000 crore Metro Line 11 project, managed by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), includes two proposed metro stations, one near Sion and another inside Dharavi itself. The hub will also feature an upgraded bus depot for BEST services. In exchange, approximately 12 acres of land occupied by the current Dharavi and Kalakilla bus depots in Sion East, servicing around 300 buses and housing transport and power division offices, will be repurposed for the new MMTH.
Officials stated the transport hub will go beyond traditional station models, incorporating infrastructure for feeder buses, pedestrian pathways, and dedicated cycling tracks to ensure comprehensive last-mile connectivity. “The intent is to build a future-ready mobility hub, not just a station,” a senior official said, as quoted by Times of India. Feeder routes are also being planned to better connect surrounding areas with the multimodal system, ensuring Dharavi’s inclusion in Mumbai’s larger urban transit network.
