A Metro line to take commuters across Mumbai’s northern suburbs and a six-lane bridge to cut through one of its biggest road bottlenecks — Metro Line 13 is designed as a two-in-one connectivity fix for the Bhayandar-Vasai-Virar belt.

Approved by the Maharashtra Cabinet this month, the 25-km corridor will connect Bhayandar to Virar, and its 4.92-km integrated road-and-Metro bridge across Vasai Creek will cut the road journey between Bhayandar and Vasai — from around 40 minutes to about 10 minutes.

Together, the two links are expected to ease the pressure on packed suburban trains and congested creek crossings that currently carry much of the region’s traffic.

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Currently, the only reliable public transport route between these northern suburbs is the suburban rail.

How will this Metro line help?

Currently, the only reliable public transport route between these northern suburbs is the suburban rail.

But this route gets extremely congested during peak hours, making everyday travelling a challenge. An alternative will be a game-changer and has long been sought after by commuters.

For road commuters, the metro will offer a reliable and smooth option to escape congested roads that depend on narrow creek bridges to enter Mumbai’s peninsula.

The integrated road bridge over the Vasai Creek will also ease congestion. 

Project details

Starts: Bhayandar

Ends: Dongarpada, Virar

Length: 25.03-km corridor

Stations: 16

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Names of the stations: Subhash Chandra Ground, Naigaon, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, Juchandra, Rajvali, Golani Naka, Vasai, VVCMC Fire Station, Achole Village, Nallasopara East, Nallasopara West, Morya Nagar, Yashwant Nagar, Virar, Viva College, Yazoo Park and Dongarpada

Elevated: 21.78 km (13 stations)

Underground: 3.25km (3 stations)

Cost: Rs 17,724.99 crore

Includes a 4.92-km integrated six-lane road and Metro bridge across Vasai Creek, connecting Panju Island. This Bhayandar-Vasai road bridge will reduce the distance between the two suburbs from 40 minutes to just around 10 minutes.

Interchanges:

With Metro Line 9 at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium

With suburban railway stations at Naigaon, Nalasopara and Virar

Deadline: 5 years/2031

Expected ridership: 4.49 lakh passengers daily by 2031

Depot: Chikhal Dongri 

Will cut travel time by around 50 per cent compared with road travel

Status: With Cabinet approval of the DPR in, the MMRDA can begin on-ground work on the metro line, including appointing a consultant and then a contractor.