• The Thane Ring Metro project is expected to uproot 317 trees in the Yeoor-Sanjay Gandhi National Park eco-sensitive zone.
• A forest official said the alignment will pass through the eco-sensitive zones of Majiwada, Chitalsar, Manpada, Waghbil and Gaimukh.
• The project could potentially disrupt the region’s flora.

Trial run completed on Gaimukh-Kapurbawdi Metro route. Upcoming Metro service expected to benefit commuters in Gaimukh, Kasarvadavali, Waghbil, Manpada, Tikujiniwadi, Dongripada, Vijay Garden and Kapurbawdi.

Maharashtra minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that the Thane Metro’s Gaimukh–Kapurbawdi corridor has completed its trial run, with operations expected to begin by December. It is expected to improve connectivity and ease road congestion for residents of Gaimukh, Kasarvadavali, Waghbil, Manpada, Tiku Ji Ni Wadi, Dongripada, Vijay Garden and Kapurbawdi, offering another option for daily travel.

Separately, several hundred residents protested the proposed revised Internal Ring Metro route, demanding restoration of the original alignment. The protest began in Swatantryaveer Savarkar Nagar with a community meeting and signature campaign; residents later formed a human chain from Aai Mataji Chowk to Lokmanya Nagar TMT Depot. They objected to the revised route through Lokmanya TMT Depot, Aai Mata Temple, Korus Road, Vartak Nagar Naka and Shastri Nagar, citing tree cutting, possible displacement of thousands and potential traffic problems.

MahaMetro has invited bids to build eight of the 22 stations on the proposed 29-km Thane Ring Metro. The project is estimated to cost ₹12,200.10 crore, up from ₹10,893 crore seven years ago.

The stations are Manpada, Dongripada, Vijay Nagri, Waghbil, Waterfront, Patlipada, Thane Junction and New Thane. Thane Junction and New Thane will be underground; the other six will be elevated. Estimated construction costs are ₹223.70 crore for the underground stations and ₹228.44 crore for the elevated stations, totalling ₹452.14 crore; final costs may vary with bids and execution. Construction deadlines are five years for underground stations and 2.5 years for elevated stations. Groundwork is expected after the monsoon.

Funding will come jointly from the central and state governments, multilateral development banks and bilateral agencies. Partial operations are planned by 2029, replacing the earlier 2025 target. The line will connect with Mumbai Metro Lines 4 and 4A (Gaimukh–Wadala) and Line 5 towards Bhiwandi. Forecast daily ridership is 647,000 in 2029, 761,000 in 2035 and 872,000 in 2045. The route also serves Gandhinagar, Wagle Estate, Railadevi, Balkumpada and Kolshet Industrial Area, as well as the named stations and Waterfront at Hiranandani Estate.

Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MahaMetro) awarded Turbhe-based Assystem STUP the design tender for Waterfront, Waghbil, Vijayanagari, Dongripada, Manpada and Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Auditorium stations on the ₹12,200 crore Thane Integral Ring Metro. Tenders have also been floated for general consultants; topography and underground-utility surveys are underway to establish the alignment and identify cables and pipelines requiring relocation. MahaMetro has opened an office at Pokhran No. 2 and begun mobilising staff. The 29-km corridor along Thane’s western periphery will have 22 stations: two underground and 20 at grade. The project, transferred from Thane Municipal Corporation to MahaMetro, is funded equally by the Union and Maharashtra governments. About ₹4,500 crore will come from bilateral agency support and financing mechanisms including station naming rights, asset monetisation and value-capture financing. Forecast daily ridership is 647,000 in 2029, 761,000 in 2035 and 872,000 in 2045; PHPDT forecasts are 23,320, 29,489 and 31,393, respectively.