Mumbai: MSRDC begins construction of longest metro line from Virar to Alibaug

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has started studying the feasibility of the project subway The railway from Virar to Alibaug is 136 km long and is very different from railways which usually focus on roads and bridges.

The metro project will be the longest metro project in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The metro is part of the Rs 55,000-crore Virar-Alibaug intermodal corridor and is designed as a 14-lane highway with a speed limit of 120 km/h to improve traffic efficiency. According to HT, the project is expected to be completed by 2030 and will be divided into two phases: the first phase is from Navghar to Balavali, with a total length of 98.5 kilometers, and the second phase is from Balavali to Alibaug, with a total length of 129.9 kilometers.

Known as an “intermodal transport corridor”, it integrates multiple modes of transportation including road, rail and metro. The proposed metro line, expected to have around 40 stations, will run parallel to this corridor and connect important MMR suburbs.

An MSRDC official said a detailed project report will be released after the preliminary feasibility study, which is expected to be completed within 6-8 months. The metro line is designed to connect the proposed Navi Mumbai Airport to JNPA.

Although part of an intermodal corridor, authorities will review potential adjustments to costs, routes and other details. Initially planned to run from Kalbao in Bhiwandi to Alibag, experts like AV Shenoy advocated for suburban rail instead of elevated metro as it would reduce costs and integrate better with the existing system.

A decision on the location of metro car parks is still pending, with the promise of enhanced connectivity in Vasaivirar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Ulan, Pen and Alibag. MSRDC’s feasibility study is in line with the state government’s plan to hand over the corridor project to metro implementation expert MMRDA.

MMRDA’s 337-km metro expansion plan does not include the proposed Virar-Alibaug route, hinting at further development of transport infrastructure in the region.