• Know about 3 key infrastructure projects in Mumbai that were long in the making and Metro projects planned for Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

In the mid 1970’s I spent a few days at a friend’s place at Warden Road. One morning I asked host Gupta why was land reclaimed in front of his building. Oh, it was for the Coastal Road that eventually opened in 2024. 

Since the road project got shelved and to prevent encroachments on reclaimed land a garden was made. Further, slightly ahead land reclaimed at Napeansea Road became what is today called Priyadarshini Park, said Gupta. People are still confused why a flyover was needed before the park i.e. after Embassy Apartments. As per the 1970s plan, cars were supposed to go below the flyover into a tunnel. In 2024, the tunnel starts a bit after Warden Road ends.

So also the Trans Harbour Link across the Sea connecting Mumbai to the hinterland was conceived in the early 1960s and eventually opened in late 2023 (named Atal Sethu).

Anyone who has travelled by Mumbai’s Local Trains will know how crowded they are and the need for an alternate. It is only after Delhi Metro started that authorities conceived of a similar metro for Mumbai i.e. around 2004. Mumbai’s First Underground Metro partially opened in October 2024. The entire 33 kms stretch from Aarey to Cuffe Parade is expected to open by October 2025. Earlier metros started between Andheri/Borivali and Versova/Ghatkopar.

Mumbai was forever starved of quality infrastructure which took forever to be built for e.g. the Worli Bandra Sea Link took about ten years. Yet we must credit Nitin Gadkari for, in the late 1990s conceiving 55 flyovers for Mumbai around and the Congress government for the Eastern Freeway (a boon for those using Atal Setu).

Earlier, there was lack of political will to build infrastructure in the country’s financial capital. Now there seems a much needed overdrive. 

At a deeper level, I think Mumbaikars do not appreciate good work enough.

We need to appreciate and thank more. Those who build these projects are human and every human being likes to be appreciated. Fault-finding can be done in a positive way and take the form of suggestions.

This photo feature has pictures and brief write up on three key projects.

1. Coastal Road – Worli to Marine Drive with Tunnel through Malabar Hill

Promenade Coastal Road and Bridge end of pic.

Opening this road in parts was a good move. Work started, I think in 2019 and partially opened in 2024.

When fully complete, with interplay of connectors including to Worli Bandra Sea Link public might realize its full benefit. Even now it is appreciated.

There is a move to connect this road to Atal Setu and extend the coastal road from Bandra to Kandivali. Work is on.

The only way for Mumbai to grow is to decongest it. Better quality transport infrastructure could make that happen.

2. Atal Setu – Byculla/Sewri to Ulwe

This 22 odd kms bridge is a beauty. You can enter from the VT i.e. South Mumbai side or from Wadala/Sewri in Central Mumbai.

Thanks to my cousin for a great drive. Suggest drive at maximum speed of 80 or one might lose control.

3. Mumbai Metro 3 Aarey to Colaba

Making an underground metro in a densely populated city like Mumbai is tough. Most forget that the island city is built by joining seven islands through reclaiming land. So boring through that, not to forget foundations of old buildings and impact of high tide make its construction complicated.

Key part is tunnelling i.e. carried out by highly mechanized TBM machines which are 98 meter long with a diameter of 5.8 meter. These huge machines weigh approximately 700 to 800 tons. TBM machines are an alternate to the drilling and blasting method of tunnelling. 

A Tunnel Boring Machine retrieval shaft. Simply put the TBM enters at one end, drills through to come out at another.  

U see an inside view of a completed tunnel.

Metro 3 also involved making a tunnel through Mithi River (made famous during 2005 floods when Mumbai became Venice).

Joy ride inside the newly opened Metro 3.

Metro 3 might realize its potential when fully opened. Like in Delhi NCR, it could transform the city forever.

Let us thank and be grateful to every worker and member of the team that has made Metro 3 a reality. Thanks to the Japanese for partially funding Metro 3.

Hope naming the station after a corporate gets revenue for Mumbai Metro 3.

Hope Mumbai commuters value what is made, maintain it and importantly be willing to pay a price for this convenience. Nothing runs on free air. Meanwhile, Metro authorities should find innovative ways to raise sponsorships.

Besides Metro 3 a slew of Metro projects are planned or are in progress. Information taken from Maha Mumbai Metro site and MMRDA site. This was first written in second half of 2024 so could be slightly dated.

1. Blue 1 is from Ghatkopar to Versova. (made before current slew of projects).

2. Yellow 2A is from Dahisar East to Andheri West.

3. 2B Yellow is from D N Nagar to Mandale.

4. 3 Aqua is from Colaba to SEEPZ. By MMRC. Rest by MMRDA.

5. 4 Green is from Bhakti Park to Shivaji Chowk (Kasarvadavali).

6. 5 Orange is from Balkum Naka (Thane) to Kalyan in MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region)

7. 6 Pink is from Swami Samarth Nagar (Lokhandwala) to Vikroli.

8. 7 Red is from Gunadaravali to Ovaripada i.e. Andheri East to Dahisar East.

9. 7A is Andheri East to International Airport, Sahar.

10. 8 Gold – information not available on site. 

11. 9 Red is Dahisar to Mira Bhayandar.

Line from 12 to 16 are from the Maha Mumbai Metro site whilst above are also on the MMRDA site for which given links.

12. Green is Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk.

13. Green is Wadala to CSMT.

14. Orange is Kalyan to Taloja in MMR.

15. Purple is Mira road to Virar in MMR.

16. Magenta is Vikroli to Badlapur.

CM Fadnavis recently announced a second underground metro from Wadala to Gateway of India. With the experience hope it happens faster.

Wish Team Metro all the best. Cost control and Safety are both important.

Hope the infra upgrade does not result in a surge in real estate prices making Mumbai unaffordable for the common man. 

In the mid 1990s, the flyover man from Nagpur, Nitin Gadkari gave Mumbai 55 flyovers and the Mumbai Pune Expressway. Another man from Nagpur has contributed significantly to the above infrastructure projects. Dhanyavad Nagpur.

Also see

1. Album Mumbai Metro 3 making part 1

2. Album Metro 3 part 2