Mumbai’s metro network is preparing for a major expansion with the initiation of safety inspections on Metro Lines 2B and 9. A formal review is being conducted by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), marking a crucial step before these lines are cleared for passenger operations.
Trial runs on these corridors had already been started by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and inspections by CMRS were scheduled to continue through July 4. Based on the outcome, a compliance checklist is expected to be issued, followed by a final certification inspection before operations are permitted. Phase 1 of Metro Line 2B is spread across a 5.39-kilometre stretch and includes five elevated stations—Mandale, Mankhurd, BSNL, Shivaji Chowk, and Diamond Garden. In parallel, Metro Line 9 spans 4.4 kilometres and consists of Dahisar (East), Pandurangwadi, Miragaon, and Kashigaon stations.
Key infrastructure elements such as overhead electric lines, signalling equipment, civil works, and tracks are being assessed during the inspection. Senior railway officials with metro operations expertise have been involved in the evaluation to ensure compliance with safety standards. It has been indicated by officials from MMRDA that if the inspection process proceeds without major issues, the first phases of both lines could be opened to commuters by December 2025.
Earlier in June, Metro Line 2B began its first trial operations on a 5.4-kilometre segment between Diamond Garden in Chembur and Mandale in Mankhurd. The stretch had been live-charged with overhead electrification, and internal trial runs were initiated on April 16. This was followed by inspections conducted by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the CMRS. A public launch will be scheduled once all necessary certifications are granted.
This corridor is part of the larger DN Nagar–Mandale alignment, designed to enhance east-west connectivity across Mumbai. The five stations on this stretch are expected to significantly reduce travel time between the suburbs and improve transit efficiency. The first six-coach metro train for Line 2B, produced by Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), had already been delivered to the Mandale depot in November 2024. This delivery marked a key logistical milestone, further supporting the readiness of the project.
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