Mumbai, April 7 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated the initial phase of Metro Line 9, covering a distance of 4.7 km from Dahisar East to Kashigaon, which includes four newly established stations.

He emphasized that this new connectivity will greatly minimize travel time between Mumbai and Mira-Bhayandar.

According to a government announcement, Metro Line 9 is interconnected with Metro Line 7 (Red Line), providing a direct route to the Western Express Highway and Andheri East. The journey that previously took one to two hours, primarily due to traffic at the Dahisar toll plaza, will now only take around 30 minutes.

The second segment of the line, stretching from Saibaba Nagar to Subhash Chandra Bose Ground, is already 96 percent complete. Upon its completion, Line 9 will connect to Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ), facilitating seamless travel from Mira-Bhayandar to South Mumbai.

CM Fadnavis pointed out that this initiative is a “Green Project,” incorporating elements such as solar power, rainwater collection, and regenerative braking. Notably, the design includes a “double-decker” structure, akin to that in Nagpur, where the metro line and a flyover coexist on a single pillar.

In addition to this, CM Fadnavis inaugurated the first phase of Metro Line 2B, which spans from D.N. Nagar to Mandale, covering the distance from Diamond Garden to Mandale.

Metro Line 2B is now operational, consisting of a 5.6 km route with five stations. This line uniquely connects directly with the Harbour Line, forming a significant interchange hub that integrates Metro 1, Metro 3, Metro 4, Western Railway, and the Monorail.

Moreover, the Chief Minister laid the foundation for India’s first Pod Taxi project at the Bandra-Kurla Complex, aimed at addressing “last-mile” connectivity challenges. This automated transport system is modeled after similar systems in Dubai and London.

The Pod Taxi project will operate on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis, with the initial phase expected to be completed within 20 months. It will transport passengers within 100-150 meters of their destination, significantly alleviating the notorious traffic congestion in the Bandra-Kurla Complex.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde noted that Mumbai’s metro network has now reached a total of 101 km, making it the second largest in India, following Delhi.

The state government aims to expand this network to 337 km, serving nearly seven million passengers every day and substantially easing the burden on the suburban railway system.

Following the inauguration, the dignitaries took their inaugural ride from Diamond Garden to Deonar station, marking a pivotal moment in Mumbai’s urban mobility evolution.