Mumbai marked a significant milestone in urban transit development on Monday as Metro coaches were lifted from transport lorries and positioned onto the elevated tracks of the Green Line 4 in Thane using heavy-duty cranes. Officials confirmed that trial runs on the corridor are slated to commence in September, signalling a key step toward operational readiness for one of the city’s major mass transit corridors.
The Green Line 4 corridor spans 35.32 km—32.32 km for Line 4 and 2.88 km for Line 4A—with 30 stations connecting Wadala to Gaimukh via Ghatkopar, Mulund, and Thane. The line will also integrate with other metro lines, including 2B, 5, 6, and 10, creating a seamless transit network across Mumbai’s rapidly expanding urban landscape. “On August 25, the first trial train’s coaches were lifted and mounted on elevated tracks near Anand Nagar in Thane,” a senior Metro official stated. “With the Mogharpada carshed still under construction, cranes facilitated the precise placement of coaches onto girders, enabling scheduled trials and maintenance to begin on time.”
The initial 10.5-km stretch from Gaimukh to Cadbury Junction, incorporating Line 4A and part of Line 4, is expected to be operational by February 2026. This partial launch will serve 10 stations, including Cadbury, Majiwada, Kapurbawadi—interfacing with Line 5—Manpada, Tikuji-ni-Wadi, Dongari Pada, Vijay Garden, Kasarvadavali, Gowaniwada, and Gaimukh. The coaches currently deployed match the specifications of the final rolling stock, with the official Line 4 contract awarded in February 2025 to a Larsen & Toubro-Alstom consortium. Simultaneously, progress on Yellow Line 2B continues, with trial runs underway along a 5.4-km stretch between Diamond Garden in Chembur and Mandale in Mankhurd. Unlike Green Line 4, the Mandale carshed is complete, allowing smoother operations. These Yellow Line trains, manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in Bengaluru, are six-coach standard-gauge sets equipped with bicycle-friendly provisions, mobile charging ports, IP-based announcements, and advanced surveillance systems.
Transport experts highlight that the unprecedented method of lifting coaches directly onto elevated tracks represents a key innovation in urban infrastructure logistics. This technique addresses the challenges posed by incomplete car sheds while ensuring timely progress toward operational readiness. Officials also emphasised that such practices reflect a broader commitment to sustainable urban transport, aiming to provide energy-efficient, gender-neutral, and equitable mass mobility solutions for Mumbai’s growing population. The deployment of coaches marks a significant step toward a zero-carbon urban transit system and underlines the city’s efforts to expand eco-friendly commuting options while reducing reliance on road transport. As Mumbai moves closer to full integration of its metro network, these operational milestones reinforce the strategic importance of efficient, sustainable infrastructure development in enhancing urban mobility.
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