THANE, May 14 – Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday asserted that the Mahayuti government’s developmental agenda, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), is progressing at full throttle and will not be hindered by opposition forces. During a visit to Kashigaon, around 20 km from Thane, he announced that the Kashigaon-Dahisar metro line is in the final technical testing phase and will soon be opened to the public.
Metro Expansion on Fast Track
Highlighting the upcoming metro line as a significant relief for commuters, Fadnavis said it would significantly ease congestion on the Western Express Highway. “We’ve previously launched a few lines up to Andheri. The launch of this phase will provide seamless connectivity and ease urban traffic flow,” he said.He also emphasized that this particular phase features the first-ever double-decker bridge in the MMR, a design innovation set to benefit congestion-prone areas such as Mira-Bhayandar.
Seamless Integration and Future Vision
The Chief Minister laid a comprehensive roadmap for metro expansion, stating that travel up to Virar via metro will soon be a reality. “Our goal is end-to-end connectivity, where all metro lines are seamlessly integrated for commuter convenience,” he added.He lauded the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for spearheading the project and committed to fast-tracking construction timelines:
- 2025 target: 50 km of metro work
- 2026 target: 62 km of additional progress
Bullet Train Integration in Sight
Fadnavis also confirmed plans for a bullet train station near Vadhvan in Palghar district. “We are actively planning integration of the metro network with this upcoming high-speed rail station,” he noted, hinting at a broader vision for a multimodal transportation hub.Unified Government, Unhindered Progress
Responding to questions about coalition dynamics within the Mahayuti alliance, Fadnavis said, “All three parties are united and running the development express at full speed. There’s no place for a speed-breaker. If the opposition wants to give a booster, that's different.”Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik were present during the inspection visit.
