After prolonged delays and uncertainty, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has provided a crucial update on the much-anticipated Bhiwandi-Kalyan stretch of Metro Line 5. Speaking in the state assembly on Friday in response to a query by Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh, Fadnavis confirmed that a 5 km underground metro section will be built to avoid large-scale rehabilitation issues.

The responsibility for preparing the project feasibility report has been given to TCL company, and work is expected to accelerate once the report is received. The announcement finally brings clarity to Phase 2 of Metro Line 5, which had seen little progress since its groundbreaking ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 18, 2018.

While Phase 1 (Thane to Dhamankar Naka in Bhiwandi) is 80% complete, Phase 2 had remained in limbo. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), responsible for project execution, had not provided a concrete plan until now.

The state government had earlier approved a 3 km underground section in March 2022, aiming to protect 735 buildings from demolition. This plan was later cleared by the urban development department on June 6, 2023, with an increased project cost of ₹1,727 crore. However, no visible progress had been made, leading MLA Rais Shaikh to raise the issue in the assembly.

“Bhiwandi is the Manchester of India and the country’s largest logistics hub. Improving connectivity through the metro is crucial for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR),” Shaikh emphasized, highlighting the economic significance of the project.

In response, CM Fadnavis reassured that major construction work on Phase 1 is nearly done. He acknowledged the challenges in Phase 2, where massive displacement would be required if the metro were to be built above ground. To mitigate these issues, the government has now opted for an underground section, minimizing disruption for residents and businesses.