Metro Line 9 clears safety certification, likely to open by late Jan or early Feb

The Metro Line 9, connecting Dahisar East to Mira Road, has received final approval from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) on Tuesday. The first phase of the line, extending Line 7 from Dahisar East to Andheri East, includes four stations over 4.5 km, ending at Kashigaon in Mira Road.

The stations Dahisar, Pandhurang Wadi, Miragaon, and Kashigaon aim to ease congestion on the Dahisar Checknaka stretch and the Western Express Highway.

“Staff are being deployed on the prospective line, and training is ongoing,” said a source from the MMRDA. While an exact opening date is yet to be confirmed, the line could be inaugurated on Republic Day, by the end of January, or in early February. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is away at Davos until January 24, and State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik indicated the opening could be postponed to early February, according to agencies.

Once operational, Line 9 will provide commuters from Mira Bhayandar a direct route to Andheri East without requiring a transfer at Dahisar East. Passengers will also have the option to switch to Line 2A towards Andheri West.

The entire Line 9 stretch will ultimately have eight stations, extending to Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium in Bhayandar. Construction of this final stretch is expected to be the focus over the next six months.

Alongside Line 9, the first phase of Line 2B from Mandale in the eastern suburbs to Diamond Garden in Chembur has also cleared CMRS certification.

The five-station line, connecting to Mankhurd railway station, has been ready for months but remains unopened. Its launch will also activate the Mandale depot, a key facility for multiple metro lines. Both lines may be inaugurated together.

Sabah Virani is a journalist with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, covering infrastructure, housin... Read More