Metro-4 extended to include 2 more thane stations

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropol-itan Region Develo-pment Authority’s (MMRDA) Metro-4 corridor has been extended to two more stations in Thane. The corridor, which was initially from Wadala to Kasarvadavali in Thane, has been extended to Gaimukh in Thane in a bid to connect it with Ghodbunder Road. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the extension (2.7km) was approved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday. “The two-station extension will add about 1.5 lakh riders to the 8.7 lakh commuters which will travel on the Wadala-Kasarvadavali Metro 4 corridor”, said U.P.S. Madan, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.  

The two stations which will be added to the existing 32-km-long corridor are Gowniwada and Gaimukh. Although, the extension has been sought till Gaimukh, the authority has still not decided on the location of car shed for the metro line.  “The decision over whether the metro car shed will be set up at Gaimukh or Kasar-vadavali will be decided in next 3-4 months time after the DPR receives state’s approval,” said an MMRDA spokesperson. With the plan to extend Metro-4 till Gaimukh, the MMRDA is aiming to provide better connectivity between the eastern and western suburbs and woo more passengers.

The authority has sanctioned Rs 948 crore for the project and has recommended the project to the state government for its approval.

The state has also suggested that funding should be raised from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.