Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday announced that trial runs for Mumbai Metro Line 4 will begin in September, with commercial operations targeted by the end of the year.

Speaking at the 31st Varsha Marathon in Thane, Shinde said work on Thane’s internal metro—providing interchanges with Line 4—is also progressing to strengthen last-mile connectivity for commuters in Thane and neighbouring areas.

The Wadala–Kapurbawdi corridor, extended to Gaimukh as Metro 4A and linked to Mira–Bhayander (Metro 10), will form a seamless loop with other lines across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Progress and challenges:

Officials at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) report that 85 per cent of Line 4’s works are complete, including the recent installation of a 58-metre steel span at Pantnagar–Ghatkopar bus station. Activists and opposition leaders remain sceptical about the timeline, citing delays along the Ghodbunder stretch and the incomplete Mogharpada car shed. To mitigate the depot constraint, authorities plan to move 48 metro coaches from the Mandale depot (Line 2B) to the elevated section between Gaimukh and Cadbury on Line 4, enabling trial runs and pre-commissioning without waiting for the new depot.

Thane roads and infrastructure:

Beyond the metro, Shinde outlined steps to decongest Thane’s roads by rerouting freight and outbound traffic from Gujarat, Nashik and JNPT via the Mumbai Freeway extension and Coastal Road, diverting vehicles towards the Saket and Fountain Hotel junctions. He also urged Thane municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao to deploy the Rs 30 billion budget—sanctioned during Shinde’s tenure as Chief Minister—to preserve green spaces, uphold the city’s “City of Lakes” identity, and ensure pothole-free roads.