The Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project, also known as the Thane Ring Metro or Thane Integral Metro, is a new circular metro line being built in Thane city to improve urban mobility and reduce road congestion.
This project is planned as a comprehensive rapid transit loop around the western side of Thane and is separate from other metro lines in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
MahaMetro has announced a tender worth Rs 223.70 crore for this project.
Thane Ring Metro: Stations and alignment
Total Length: 29 km loop
Stations: 22 (20 elevated, 2 underground)
Alignment: Around western Thane — from Thane Junction around the Ulhas River side with Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the eastern edge.
The Cabinet has approved the Thane Ring Metro Rail Project with a budget of ₹12,200 crore.
The project
will link key areas such as Naupada, Wagle Estate, Dongripada, Hiranandani Estate, Kolshet, and Saket. #CabinetDecisions pic.twitter.com/QslROiglzn
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) August 16, 2024
29-km corridor that starts and ends at Thane Junction
The project will be a 29-kilometre metro corridor forming a loop (ring) that begins and ends at Thane Junction, connecting key residential and commercial areas such as Wagle Estate, Manpada, Waghbil, Balkum, Kolshet, Saket, Dongri-pada, Naupada and Hiranandani Estate.
It is designed with 22 stations in total — 20 elevated sections and 2 underground stations (both at the old and new Thane railway stations).
Elevated metro stations will be built at Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagriha, Manpada, Dongripada, Vijay Nagari, Waghbil, and Waterfront.
Phase one of Thane Ring Metro
In the first phase, work on six stations along a six-kilometer stretch will be completed. Of the entire route, about 26 km will be elevated, while two metro stations near Thane railway station will be underground.
How will the Ring Metro help?
- Provide a high-capacity, rapid transport option within Thane city itself
- Relieve traffic congestion on key arterial roads
- Connect residential hubs with business districtsIntegrate with existing and future suburban rail and metro lines (such as Mumbai Metro Line 4 and Line 5), thus improving connectivity to Mumbai and Kalyan.
- It is expected to help reduce travel times substantially, offer a reliable alternative to road traffic, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the PM Shri @narendramodi ji, approved the Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project corridor, Maharashtra with an estimated cost of ₹12,200.10 crore. The 29 kms corridor will consist of 22 stations.
This connectivity would provide a sustainable and… pic.twitter.com/fBG3Ii2qou
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 16, 2024
Thane Ring Metro: Funding and project status
The project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 12,200 crore. Funding will come from equal equity contributions from the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra along with additional financing through mechanisms such as sale of station naming and access rights, asset monetisation, value capture financing models, construction and implementation.
The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) is the implementing agency for the Ring Metro. Civil construction contracts are being awarded, and major tenders have been issued for elevated viaduct work, including a 20.5 km elevated section between the underground ramp and Balkum Naka, along with depot approach structures.
Thane Ring Metro: The operation depot will be at Kasarvadavali
The main operations depot is planned at Kasarvadavali, covering about 18 hectares of land. This depot will house the command control centre, stabling lines, maintenance tracks, and signalling infrastructure critical for metro operations.
Will Thane Ring Metro be connected to other Metro lines?
It will provide interchanges with:
• Mumbai Metro Line 4 (Wadala-Kasarvadavali)
• Mumbai Metro Line 5 (Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan)
This multipoint integration will help connect commuters from various parts of the region.
Thane Ring Metro: Project timeline
The project received formal Union Cabinet approval in August 2024. Foundation & initial civil works: Foundation stone was laid in late 2024 and Maha Metro has started detailed design and tendering for key civil packages in 2025.
The construction is going on, with elevated viaduct bids already awarded and piling/viaduct work expected to progress through 2026-2028.
It is expected to open in 2029, subject to construction progress and final commissioning.
Thane Ring Metro: Capacity & Ridership
The system is designed for high ridership, with projections estimating up to 6.47 lakh passengers per day by 2029, rising to around 8.72 lakh daily riders by 2045 once the network and interconnections mature.
