The Maharashtra government has approved a major expansion of Mumbai's Metro 5 corridor, creating an integrated 34.2-km metro network across the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan-Ulhasnagar
belt. The total project will cost Rs 18,130.55 crore, according to a government resolution (GR) issued on Wednesday. The state government first approved Metro Line 5 in October 2017 as a fully elevated, 24.9-km corridor with 17 stations linking Thane, Bhiwandi, and Kalyan, at a cost of ₹8,416.51 crore. The project was divided into two phases. The first phase - an 11.9-km stretch between Thane and Bhiwandi with six stations - is now in its final stages of construction. This section moved ahead relatively smoothly because it did not require large-scale demolition or displacement of residents, reported the Hindustan Times.
Why Phase Two Got Complicated
The second phase, running 10.475 km from Bhiwandi to Kalyan with six stations, has faced repeated delays. Encroachments along the route forced the Bhiwandi municipal corporation to carry out extensive demolition drives, slowing progress significantly.
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The design has also changed multiple times. In June 2023, authorities converted a section between Durgadi and Kalyan from elevated to underground, pushing costs up by Rs 1,427 crore. A further review in June 2025 led to another design change, making the stretch between Dhamankar Naka and Temghar partially underground as well. The revised cost for Phase 2 now stands at Rs 7,326.13 crore.
A Key Change: Line 5 Now Stops at Durgadi
In a significant shift from the original plan, Metro Line 5 will no longer extend all the way to Kalyan. The corridor will now terminate at Durgadi. To preserve connectivity to Kalyan and beyond, the government has introduced a brand new line — Metro Line 5A.
What Is Metro Line 5A?
Metro Line 5A will run 11.83 km from Durgadi, passing through Aadharwadi and Khadakpada, before reaching Kalyan and extending further towards Ulhasnagar. It will have seven stations and is estimated to cost around ₹4,063 crore. The two lines will share an interchange station at Durgadi, making the transition seamless for commuters.
The Bigger Picture
Together, Metro Lines 5 and 5A will form a fully integrated network of 34.2 km with 19 stations. The project also includes a unique double-decker structure between Ranjnoli Junction and Durgadi Chowk, combining a flyover and a metro line on the same structure to ease heavy road congestion in Bhiwandi.
Authorities have also built transit-oriented development into the plan, with commercial use of station spaces designed to make the project financially more viable in the long run.
Once complete, the network will offer a critical mass rapid transit link across one of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's most densely populated and traffic-congested corridors.
