Mumbai: Final inspection underway on Metro Line 2B’s Chembur–Mankhurd stretch
Mumbai's Metro Line 2B is nearing launch as final safety checks begin on the 5.4-kilometre stretch between Chembur and Mankhurd. Passenger operations will start only after the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety grants approval, following earlier inspections in April.
Mumbai: The long-awaited opening of Mumbai’s Metro Line 2B has taken a step closer to reality, with final safety inspections beginning on Thursday, September 10. Officials from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) have started examining the 5.4-kilometre stretch linking Diamond Garden in Chembur with Mandale in Mankhurd. Passenger services will only commence once the corridor receives approval.
A similar inspection was carried out in April, when the CMRS provided the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) with a checklist of issues to be addressed before granting clearance.
Five stations in 1st phase of Metro Line 2B
Phase one of the corridor includes five stations including, Diamond Garden, Shivaji Chowk, BSNL Metro, Mankhurd and Mandale. The line is expected to significantly strengthen east–west connectivity across the city once operational.
The first six-coach train for Line 2B, built by Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), arrived at the Mandale depot in November 2023. When the entire 23.6-kilometre corridor is complete, it will feature 20 stations and link with major transport networks including the Western and Eastern Express Highways, the suburban railway, the Monorail, and other metro corridors such as Line 2A (DN Nagar–Dahisar), Line 3 (Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ) and Line 4 (Wadala–Kasarvadavli).
Delays and construction hurdles
Progress on the elevated line has been hampered by repeated challenges, including the shifting of underground utilities, heavy traffic disruption, and the setbacks caused by the pandemic. These factors pushed the project well beyond its original December 2025 target.
Meanwhile, work is also under way on a metro car shed at Mandale, spread across 31.4 hectares. Once services begin, Metro Line 2B is expected to reduce journey times on the route by up to 75 per cent, offering much-needed relief to commuters across Mumbai.