Mumbai’s traffic, Metro Line 4 has reached a critical point in its Phase 2 expansion with the successful launch of a massive steel girder at the Gandhi Nagar Junction in Vikhroli.
Spanning 62.7 metres and weighing an imposing 540 tonnes, the girder is being precisely installed 24 metres above the intersection of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) and Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road—a location notorious for its heavy vehicular flow. The engineering operation marks a pivotal step in the Metro Line 4 project, which is aimed at reshaping Mumbai’s eastern connectivity from Gaimukh in Thane to Wadala via Mulund and Kanjurmarg. The particular section between Cadbury Junction and Gandhi Nagar, currently under active construction, is expected to open to the public by December 2026.
The complexity of the girder launch operation stems not only from the sheer scale and weight of the structure but also the tight spatial constraints and uninterrupted traffic beneath. The construction is being executed in three critical stages: the first involving a 30-metre stretch over JVLR directly under Metro Line 6, the second adding a 17-metre span towards Vikhroli, and the final 15-metre segment extending toward Mulund. This junction is fast emerging as a distinctive multi-tiered transport hub in the city. With LBS Road forming the base layer, a JVLR flyover above it, Metro Line 6 suspended next, and now Metro Line 4 being placed on the topmost tier, the intersection exemplifies vertical urban mobility in a space-scarce metropolis. The integration of multiple transit corridors in a stacked configuration not only optimises space but aligns with broader goals of zero-emission urban transit and reduced dependency on fossil-fuel-based private vehicles.
Officials overseeing the project have confirmed that the girder installation is proceeding on schedule, injecting momentum into the completion of the Metro Line 4 corridor. Upon completion, the metro line is projected to serve over 800,000 commuters daily. It is expected to significantly cut down travel time and road congestion across the city’s eastern suburbs, offering a more efficient and environmentally sustainable alternative to surface transport. This development comes at a time when Mumbai’s urban mobility is under intense scrutiny, with growing populations and ever-increasing traffic volumes putting stress on existing infrastructure. Metro Line 4, as part of the city’s broader metro rail network expansion, is central to the mission of creating a more accessible, equitable, and low-carbon transportation system.
The successful execution of high-stakes operations like the Gandhi Nagar girder launch underscores the city’s shift toward smarter infrastructure planning. It also reflects how India’s financial capital is increasingly embracing technologically advanced and environmentally conscious transit solutions that prioritise long-term urban resilience. As the project heads into its final construction phases, residents in the eastern corridor are closely watching the timeline. With completion targeted for late 2026, Mumbai moves a step closer to a metro network that not only connects its people more efficiently, but does so in a way that aligns with the sustainable and inclusive vision for the city’s future.
Also Read:Â https://urbanacres.in/bengaluru-mp-urges-immediate-release-of-metro-fare-report/
