Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority is planning to launch Mumbai Metro Line 6 without the proposed car depot at Kanjurmarg, adopting an alternative maintenance strategy to avoid delays. The 15.31-km corridor, connecting Swami Samarth Nagar in Andheri (West) to Vikhroli, is targeted for opening in the second half of 2026.

To bypass the need for the depot, which could take two to three years to become operational, MMRDA is developing an elevated eight-lane corridor with pit lines for train maintenance at the Vikhroli end. This elevated maintenance deck, currently under construction parallel to the Eastern Express Highway, will allow routine servicing of metro rakes. Periodic overhauls will be carried out at the Mandale depot, according to officials.

The Kanjurmarg depot has been delayed due to land-related issues. MMRDA had sought 15 hectares of land for the facility, but the site’s classification as salt pan land has led to prolonged government procedures. Although the Maharashtra government handed over 15 hectares in April 2023, an additional seven hectares sought by MMRDA for allied activities is still under consideration. Officials said the elevated maintenance system and single pit lines near stations would allow operations to begin without waiting for the depot’s completion.

Sources indicated that sufficient rakes are available to operate the corridor initially, with six to eight trains expected to run at intervals of six to eight minutes. By the time demand rises, the Kanjurmarg depot is expected to be ready.

MMRDA is also in the final stages of acquiring land from government, forest and private owners for certain stations along the corridor. These include Jogeshwari (West) near IIT Bombay in Powai, Kanjurmarg near the Eastern Express Highway, and Saki Vihar near Larsen & Toubro. While construction has commenced at these locations, small parcels of land are still required for foot overbridges. Station works and girder installations are already under way.

MMRDA has appointed a contractor for the Kanjurmarg depot at an estimated cost of Rs 5.09 billion. The scope of work includes construction of boundary walls, earthwork, workshops, inspection bays, stabling lines, an automatic washing plant and an operations and control centre.

The proposed depot-free operational model reflects MMRDA’s broader strategy to accelerate metro commissioning timelines while addressing land acquisition challenges. If implemented successfully, the approach could set a precedent for future metro corridors in Mumbai’s rapidly expanding urban transport network.