Mumbai’s mass transit network is poised for a major leap with the deployment of 39 driverless metro trainsets and an advanced signalling system on Metro Line 4, a 35.3-km corridor linking Wadala and Kasarvadavali. The contract, secured by a global rail major in partnership with an Indian infrastructure giant, is valued at several hundred million euros and includes five years of maintenance. The project marks a defining step towards automation and sustainability in urban transport. Each six-coach driverless trainset will be manufactured in India under the government’s Make in India programme, with facilities spread across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Karnataka. This distributed production model ensures localisation of technology while creating jobs and deepening India’s transit manufacturing capacity.
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Metro Line 4, often referred to as the Green Line, will integrate with existing networks including the Monorail and Eastern Express Highway. With 32 stations along its stretch, the line is expected to decongest roads and significantly cut vehicular emissions. The driverless operation enabled by Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology is being projected as not only a boost for safety and efficiency but also as a climate-conscious choice for a city grappling with worsening air quality.
According to transport officials, the new rolling stock will feature regenerative braking, energy-efficient propulsion systems, and cybersecurity safeguards. Such innovations are being positioned as essential for building metro systems that align with India’s net-zero ambitions. The driverless system, they added, allows closer headways, meaning more trains can run with shorter intervals, ultimately serving more passengers while using fewer resources.
Experts note that the Green Line could become a showcase of future-ready metro corridors across the country. “This initiative demonstrates how technology, sustainability, and local manufacturing can converge in a single urban transport project,” said a senior industry analyst. “It shows that the Indian metro sector is moving away from dependency on imports and towards self-reliant, greener innovation.”The metro cars will roll out from a state-of-the-art facility in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, which already supplies trains to metro systems in India and abroad, including Sydney and Montreal.
With an annual capacity of 480 cars, the plant is well placed to meet domestic demand while serving global orders.For Mumbai, however, the larger story lies in how Metro Line 4 could redefine commuting habits. The corridor runs through some of the most congested stretches of the metropolitan region, and by linking multiple hubs, it promises to ease traffic snarls and shorten travel times. Transport planners argue that every commuter shifting from car or two-wheeler to metro translates to reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions, strengthening the city’s resilience against climate challenges.While the project’s commissioning timelines remain closely watched, its symbolism is clear: Mumbai is positioning itself at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and sustainability. If implemented as planned, Metro Line 4 could stand as one of the most climate-responsible mobility projects in India’s financial capital.
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Mumbai Metro Line 4 to get 39 driverless trainsets, CBTC system
