Mumbai Metro One is planning to add 22 coaches to its fleet to ease crowding on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor. The expansion will convert some existing four-car trains into six-car formations and increase the space available to passengers during peak hours.

The coach addition process has begun, although implementation is linked to Mumbai Metro One (MMOPL)’s financial restructuring and access to funds. The proposed upgrade is expected to raise the line’s carrying capacity by more than 50 per cent once the additional coaches are introduced.

A four-car train currently carries around 1,178 passengers at a time, while a six-car train can accommodate approximately 1,792 passengers. The increase would allow each upgraded service to carry about 614 additional commuters, offering greater capacity without requiring an immediate expansion of the existing corridor.

Demand for more coaches on Metro Line 1 has remained high for several years. Pressure on the route has increased as Mumbai’s wider metro network has expanded, with passengers using Lines 3, 2A and 7 before transferring to Line 1 at major interchange points.

Stations including Marol Naka, Western Express Highway, Andheri and Ghatkopar are facing heavier peak-hour traffic as a result. MMOPL wants to complete the coach addition as soon as possible, but the pace of the project will depend on the company’s restructuring process and the availability of financing.

Mumbai Metro began operations in June 2014, and the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor remains an important east-west connection for the city. The planned six-car formations are intended to provide relief to existing passengers while improving the line’s ability to handle rising demand across the network.