Metro Infrastructure
MMRDA Moves Ahead on Line 5A Metro With Seven Elevated Stations Planned for Ulhasnagar
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has advanced the Line 5A metro extension, an 11.83 km elevated line with seven stations and a spur to Ulhasnagar, through general consultant and civil-works tender steps. The extension is targeted to open around 2030–31, and no private developer is involved.
| Organisation | Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) |
|---|---|
| Project | Mumbai Metro Line 5A (Durgadi to Kalyan, with spur to Ulhasnagar), part of the integrated Line 5 and 5A project |
| Route length | 11.83 km, elevated, with two spurs |
| Stations | Seven: Durgadi, Khadakpada, Bhoirwadi, Shivaji Path, Shanti Nagar, Shivaji Chowk and Ulhasnagar |
| Line 5A cost | ₹4,063.08 crore (Detailed Project Report estimate) |
| Combined Line 5 and 5A investment | ₹18,130.55 crore, as reported by Metro Rail News (state approval on 22 April 2026) |
| Target opening of extended network | 2030–31 |
| Status as of 5 November 2026 | General consultant appointment and civil-works tender documents in preparation; not yet under construction |
What has happened
MMRDA has taken several procurement steps for the Line 5A extension in 2026. In March, it announced that it would appoint a general consultant for the ₹4,063 crore Line 5A extension. In July, it invited bids for general consultant services for the Metro Line 5A extension, which connects Kalyan and Ulhasnagar. A civil-works tender for the general consultancy of Line 5A, running from Durgadi to Kalyan with a spur to Ulhasnagar, carries a 48-month contract period and a pre-bid meeting on 11 March 2026.
A Marathi-language report dated 4 November 2026 says MMRDA has floated tenders worth ₹4,564 crore for the next phases of Metro Line 5 and Line 5A. The report credits Dr Shrikant Shinde, Kalyan Lok Sabha MP, with follow-up that led to the tender announcement. Bid deadlines for that package have not been reported.
Route and stations
Line 5A is an 11.83 km elevated line that branches into two spurs, one running to Kalyan and the other terminating at Ulhasnagar. The seven stations are Durgadi, Khadakpada, Bhoirwadi, Shivaji Path, Shanti Nagar, Shivaji Chowk and Ulhasnagar. The line will interchange with Metro Lines 5 and 12 and with the Central Railway suburban network at Kalyan Junction.
The corridor serves Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Dombivli in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Line 5 was first planned at 22.38 km; with the 11.83 km Line 5A extension approved, the total corridor now stands at 34.21 km, according to a Free Press Journal report dated 22 June 2026.
A Marathi-language report describes a planned double-decker road-cum-metro structure around Ranjnoli Junction and Durgadi. No date or cost has been reported for that structure.
Cost, land and ridership
The Detailed Project Report estimates the Line 5A cost at ₹4,063.08 crore. Metro Rail News reports ₹18,130.55 crore for the combined Line 5 and 5A project.
The alignment requires approximately 16,268 square metres of government land and around 1,738 square metres of private land.
For the Ulhasnagar spur, ridership is currently 0.125 million, with projections of 0.122 million by 2031 and 0.129 million by 2041, as stated in the source report.
| Year | Ridership on Ulhasnagar spur (million) |
|---|---|
| Current | 0.125 |
| 2031 (projection) | 0.122 |
| 2041 (projection) | 0.129 |
Approvals and related tenders
The Maharashtra government approved the integrated Line 5 and 5A project on 22 April 2026. Reports differ on the central approval of the revised alignment: one gives 29 August 2026 and a Kalyan Vaibhav report gives 28 August 2026 as the date of the central notification.
A separate ₹84.34 crore tender for track works at the Kasheli depot covers design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of standard gauge track, both ballasted and ballastless. The work is to be completed within 20 months, including the monsoon period, with tender security of ₹42.17 lakh, according to a Free Press Journal report of 22 June 2026.
Earlier Line 5 procurement included a general consultant tender for Phase II announced in April 2024, with a 72-month project duration, and a February 2024 rolling stock tender with an estimated value of ₹2,640.72 crore. That rolling stock package covers 22 trains of six coaches each, or 132 coaches. MMRDA has also approached the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for assistance with Line 5 system components.
What it means for buyers and investors
For commuters, the corridor is expected to ease pressure on crowded suburban rail services and improve links across the eastern suburbs and industrial belt. Bhiwandi's warehousing and logistics sector is cited as a major beneficiary of better connectivity.
For buyers and investors, the extension is still at the procurement and planning stage. Construction has not started on Line 5A, and a Kalyan Vaibhav report says the full Line 5 and 5A will not begin immediately, since construction, land acquisition, permissions and other processes still need to be completed.
Land acquisition in large infrastructure projects is often time-consuming, and environmental impact assessments and statutory clearances may also affect the timeline. Any property decision linked to the line should allow for a possible delay between announcement and service.
What comes next
- Phase 1 (Thane to Bhiwandi): the 12.20 km section from Kapurbawdi in Thane to Dhamankar Naka in Bhiwandi is nearing completion and is targeted to open around December 2026. Trial runs are targeted by the end of 2026, with commercial operations expected after safety certification.
- Safety inspection: an inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety is a mandatory step before passenger services can begin.
- Line 5A general consultant and civil-works tenders: the appointment and contract award dates are still to be announced.
- Extended network to Kalyan and Ulhasnagar: targeted for 2030–31.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Line 5A metro?
Line 5A is an 11.83 km elevated line with seven stations and two spurs, one to Kalyan and one ending at Ulhasnagar.
What stations are planned on Line 5A?
The seven stations are Durgadi, Khadakpada, Bhoirwadi, Shivaji Path, Shanti Nagar, Shivaji Chowk and Ulhasnagar. Line 5A will also interchange with Metro Lines 5 and 12 and with the Central Railway network at Kalyan Junction.
How much will Line 5A cost?
The Detailed Project Report estimates the Line 5A cost at ₹4,063.08 crore. The combined Line 5 and 5A project is reported at ₹18,130.55 crore.
When will the Kalyan and Ulhasnagar extension open?
The extended network towards Kalyan and Ulhasnagar is targeted for 2030–31.
Who is building Line 5A?
The project is led by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, which is running the procurement. No private developer is involved in the project.
Is construction under way on Line 5A?
As of 5 November 2026, MMRDA is at the stage of appointing a general consultant and preparing civil-works tender documents for Line 5A. The Phase 1 Thane to Bhiwandi section is closer to completion.