Maharashtra government has initiated the process to integrate all metro rail agencies operating in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) under a single unified authority. The move is expected to eliminate administrative overlaps, enhance service coordination, and prepare the city’s transit systems for long-term sustainable growth.
The state’s Urban Development Department has constituted a high-level committee tasked with recommending measures to bring together various metro operators under one cohesive structure. The panel will assess technical, legal, and financial implications before proposing a framework for a Unified Metro Rail Authority. Officials said the initiative reflects the government’s recognition that as multiple metro lines open across MMR, a fragmented governance model risks inefficiency. A single body will ensure consistency in operations, ticketing, and commuter information across lines operated by different entities, such as the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha Metro), and Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL).
A senior official said the committee’s work will draw from global best practices, including integrated systems like Transport for London (TfL) and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA). “The goal is to make Mumbai’s metro network function as one connected system rather than separate lines run by different agencies. This is critical for building a modern, people-centred, and sustainable urban mobility ecosystem,” the official added. The panel will also outline steps for asset transfer, staff integration, and digital synchronisation of passenger systems. It will explore how digital tools such as the Mumbai One App—already capable of planning journeys across buses, trains, and metro networks—can evolve into a unified mobility platform supporting one-ticket travel and real-time connectivity.
Experts in urban transport have welcomed the move, noting that integration will enhance efficiency while advancing sustainability goals. “Unified operations reduce duplication of resources, cut down on idle transit time, and encourage public transport adoption—all of which contribute to lowering emissions and improving urban liveability,” said a mobility researcher. The committee has been directed to submit its report within three months. Once implemented, the unified authority is expected to transform Mumbai’s metro ecosystem into a coordinated, digitally connected network that supports inclusive, low-carbon urban mobility—setting a precedent for other Indian cities seeking integrated transport governance.
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