Mumbai’s Metro Line 6 is now expected to become operational in the second half of 2026, even as uncertainty persists over the proposed car depot at Kanjurmarg. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to proceed with operations through an alternative maintenance arrangement to avoid further delays caused by land clearance issues.

The 15.31-kilometre Pink Line will connect Swami Samarth Nagar in Andheri (West) with Vikhroli, providing a vital east–west connectivity corridor across Mumbai. The project is expected to significantly improve urban mobility in one of the city’s most congested transport corridors.

In the absence of a full-scale depot, MMRDA is implementing an unconventional solution—an elevated eight-lane maintenance corridor equipped with pit lines running parallel to the Eastern Express Highway. Construction of this structure is already under way and is designed to support routine maintenance and inspection of metro rakes.

According to MMRDA officials, the elevated corridor will feature eight pit lines to facilitate regular servicing and safety checks. For scheduled periodic overhauls, trains will be transported to the Mandale depot. Officials noted that the interim arrangement would allow Metro Line 6 to begin operations without waiting for the Kanjurmarg depot, which could otherwise delay the project by several years.

The delay stems from challenges in securing around 15 hectares of land at Kanjurmarg, classified as salt pan land, which is yet to receive final government approval. Officials said that even after land allocation, depot construction would take two to three years.

Metro Line 6, estimated to cost around Rs 67 billion, has faced multiple setbacks since construction began in 2017. Interestingly, the originally proposed depot site near the Eastern Express Highway is now being utilised for the elevated maintenance corridor, highlighting the adaptive approach adopted by MMRDA to keep the project on track.

The interim maintenance strategy reflects MMRDA’s effort to balance infrastructure constraints with operational timelines, ensuring that the critical east–west metro corridor can be delivered within a realistic timeframe.