Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday asserted that no political opposition can stall the infrastructure push by the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which he likened to a high-speed development express.
Speaking at Kashigaon near Thane, Fadnavis said the upcoming Kashigaon-Dahisar metro line is nearing completion and will soon be operational. Once launched, the new metro line is expected to significantly reduce traffic on the Western Express Highway and improve connectivity in Mumbai’s northern suburbs. The project is in its final phase of technical testing and forms part of a broader initiative to streamline urban transport across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). “All three parties of Mahayuti are united. We are running the development express at full speed, and there is no room for a speed-breaker. If the opposition wants to fuel this progress, that’s welcome — but delays will not be tolerated,” Fadnavis said. Describing metro rail as the backbone of urban mobility, he confirmed that the new line will add to existing routes up to Andheri, while future phases aim to connect as far as Virar. He stressed the importance of integrating metro corridors to offer commuters end-to-end connectivity.
Notably, the upcoming phase includes the MMR’s first double-decker metro bridge — an innovative solution targeting congestion hotspots like Mira-Bhayandar. “This is a first-of-its-kind project in the region and marks a major milestone in our infrastructure planning,” Fadnavis said. He announced a plan to fast-track metro construction, targeting 50 km of metro additions this year and another 62 km next year. “The major network we began in 2015 will be completed by 2027. That’s our commitment,” he said. Fadnavis also highlighted ongoing coordination with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is executing several metro lines. He confirmed that planning is underway to integrate the metro network with the upcoming bullet train station near Vadhvan in Palghar.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik were also present at the event.
