Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed officials to ensure that all metro rail projects in the state are completed within three years from the start of construction as the government accelerates expansion of its urban rapid transit network. Chairing the state cabinet’s Infrastructure Committee, he said the expansion in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will strengthen safe, fast and environment-friendly public transport and support future urban growth. An official statement said the state currently has 174 km of operational metro corridors, while 291 km are under construction. Another 130 km of routes are awaiting approval and detailed project reports are being prepared for 87.15 km of additional corridors. The state plans to operationalise more than 300 km of new metro lines by 2029-30, taking the total planned and operational network to 683.53 km, comprising 428.89 km in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, 169.45 km in the Pune Metropolitan Region and 85.20 km in the Nagpur Metropolitan Region. Metro projects worth Rs 2.81 trillion (tn) are at various stages of implementation. The Centre’s share is Rs 27,216 crore, the Maharashtra government’s direct contribution is Rs 50,250 crore and another Rs 75,729.62 crore will be mobilised through the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, local bodies and planning authorities, with the balance to be raised through government-guaranteed borrowings. For clarity, the sums translate to Rs 272.16 billion (bn), Rs 502.5 billion (bn) and about Rs 757.30 billion (bn) respectively. The meeting reviewed the proposed Metro Line-10 connecting Mira Gaon and Gaimukh in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, a 9.68 km elevated corridor with five stations estimated to cost Rs 8,500 crore. The chief minister directed officials to complete the project within three years. The government also reviewed progress on several other proposed metro projects including lines linking Anik Depot to the Gateway of India, the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports, Shivaji Chowk to Vasai Virar, and extensions in Pune and Nagpur.