Maharashtra MMRDA Approves Metro Line 12A Along Shilphata
A transformative expansion of the urban rail network received a significant policy push on 20 February 2026 as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) unveiled administrative approval for a major extension of Metro Line 12A, aimed at easing congestion along the busy Kalyan–Shilphata Road corridor. With an estimated investment of ₹8,414.53 crore, the revised corridor underscores a sustained focus on strengthening east–west connectivity across the eastern fringes of the metropolitan region.
The expanded Line 12A will stretch roughly 18.4 kilometres, linking Kalyan Phata to Taloja via densely populated nodes such as Manpada, Katai Naka, Desai Naka, Padle Gaon and Dahisar Mori. About 10.5 kilometres of alignment are already under construction, highlighting the acceleration of metro infrastructure delivery in response to long-standing mobility constraints in the Kalyan–Dombivli belt.Traffic congestion along Shilphata Road has been a perennial challenge amid rapid urbanisation of eastern Mumbai suburbs. Planners and transport experts widely view the Metro 12A extension as a strategic intervention to offer a reliable alternative to private vehicles and buses, reducing surface road pressure and improving travel time predictability. The corridor is also designed to introduce the first metro connectivity to areas such as Kalwa, Diva and Mumbra, which have historically lacked rapid mass transit options despite significant commuter flows.
The project will include 12 elevated stations and is being developed with integration in mind: shared track sections with existing and proposed networks are planned, particularly between Katai Naka and Kalyan Phata, which will be common with Metro Line 14 (Kanjurmarg–Badlapur). The extension will also connect seamlessly with the Nilje depot and the envisaged Thane high-speed rail station, reflecting a broader multi-modal transport planning approach in Maharashtra’s urban mobility blueprint.In parallel with the Metro 12A extension, the MMRDA has also cleared a ₹5,909.21 crore double-decker elevated corridor between Shilphata Junction and Rajnoli (Bhiwandi). This corridor will feature a lower deck for road traffic and an upper deck for metro operations, effectively blending road and rail mobility within a constrained urban rights-of-way. These investments were flagged during the 2026–27 MMRDA budget deliberations, which earmarked nearly ₹4,897.19 crore for infrastructure works in the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency alone.
Urban planners emphasise that the Metro 12A extension is part of a larger effort to reconfigure movement patterns in rapidly growing peri-urban zones where daily commuter loads outstrip existing transport capacity. By integrating rapid transit with arterial road networks, the region stands to benefit from reduced emissions, improved travel reliability and enhanced access to jobs and services across the metropolitan area.
However, executing such large-scale projects requires sustained coordination among state, regional and local agencies, particularly on land acquisition and urban integration issues that often determine delivery timelines in dense built environments. As infrastructure spend in Maharashtra tilts increasingly toward mass transit, the Metro 12A corridor could very well become a linchpin for inclusive, resilient urban growth across the eastern Mumbai suburbs and beyond.
