The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed the installation of a 58-metre-long steel span over the Pantnagar–Ghatkopar bus stand in Ghatkopar East, marking a major milestone in the construction of Metro Line 4 between Wadala and Kasarvadavli.

The 450-tonne, 3.1-metre-high span, built from five steel girders, was hoisted into place over two consecutive nights to minimise disruption to city traffic. Work continued despite heavy rainfall, high traffic on the Andheri–Ghatkopar Link Road, and limited working space due to the nearby Somaiya nullah.

The operation used two cranes of 700 and 500 metric tonnes, with standby cranes of 500 and 80 tonnes, supported by over 100 workers, engineers, safety personnel, and more than 50 trained traffic wardens. “The span installation was completed at night with strict traffic management measures to ensure safety and smooth movement,” said an MMRDA official.

Spanning 32.3 km, Metro Line 4 is currently 84.5 per cent complete. Once operational, it will significantly improve east–west connectivity in Mumbai. The Ghatkopar site posed engineering challenges with an operational bus station below and constant road traffic, requiring precise coordination of equipment movement.

The installation is among the final major works for this section, with track laying, system integration, and station interiors still to be completed. Delays had occurred due to land acquisition issues and pandemic-related setbacks.

The steel girder will carry elevated tracks over the bus station and form part of a viaduct linking key points along the corridor. “This milestone paves the way for integration with other metro lines, strengthening Mumbai’s metro network,” the official added.