Thane Metro after 172 years of Rail service in India

April 16, 1853, First Train in India traveled between Bori Bunder / Bombay and Thane. After 172 years of Rail Service launch in India, Thane city gets its first Metro Line.

Thane Metro 4, 4A Trial Run Flagged Off from Gaimukh

Thane, Maharashtra — On 22nd September 2025, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde officially flagged off the trial and technical inspection run of the priority section of Mumbai Metro Line 4 & 4A — from Gaimukh Junction to Vijay Garden in Thane.

Thane Metro 4, 4A Trial Run Details

The trial run covered about 4.4 km of the elevated stretch between Gaimukh and Vijay Garden, passing through four stations: Gaimukh, Govanipada (also spelled Gavhanpada / Govaniwada in some reports), Kasarvadavali, and Vijay Garden.
Key infrastructure elements were tested: the viaduct structures, tracks, overhead equipment (OHE), system integrations, software configurations, and load-bearing capacity.
Technical inspection was completed, including safety checks. Passenger services will begin only after approvals, including from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) and Independent Safety Assessor (ISA).

Thane Metro 4, 4A Route and Stations

Cadbury – कैडबरी
Majiwada – माजीवाडा
Kapurbawdi – कापुरबावडी
Manpada – मानपाडा
Tikuji-Ni-Wadi – टिकुजी नी वाडी
Dhongri Pada – ढोंगरी पाडा
Vijay Garden – विजय गार्डन
Kasarvadali – कासरवडवली
Gownipada – गोवनीपाडा
Gaimukh – गायमुख

Significance of Thane Metro 4, 4A

Metro Line 4 (Wadala → Kasarvadavali) together with its extension 4A (Kasarvadavali → Gaimukh) will add up to approximately 35 km of elevated metro corridor with 32 stations across the full route.
The cost estimate is about ₹16,000 crore.
Expected ridership: around 1.3 to 1.4 lakh (130,000-140,000) commuters daily once fully operational.
Benefits cited: reduced travel times, eased congestion (especially along Ghodbunder Road / Highway), better connectivity between Thane and parts of Mumbai, and enhanced public transport options for Thane residents.

CM Devendra Fadnavis & Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Mumbai Metro 4, 4A line

CM Fadnavis remarked that all phases of the Metro network (for the lines in question) are expected to be open to the public by end of 2026.
Shinde, who also heads the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), noted the special efforts for land acquisition, depot facilities, and overcoming challenges to get this project moving.
Some minor work is still pending, especially full system readiness, completion of the depot (Mogharpada / Bhogaripada), safety clearances, etc.

Thane Metro Line 4, 4A Challenges

Full safety clearances: Even though the technical trial is done for the priority section, approvals from safety agencies are needed before any public operations.
Depot readiness: The permanent depot for Lines 4 & 4A is not yet fully operational; in the interim, temporary arrangements are being used.
Completion of the rest of the line: While this 4.4 km stretch is being trialled, the rest of the route still needs construction, system integration, station finishes, etc. Full corridor opening is planned in phases.

How Thane Metro 4, 4A will help Thanekars

For Thane, this represents a significant milestone: it will be the city’s inaugural metro service, finally introducing mass rapid transit to its transportation framework after years of requests. It is expected to alleviate the traffic congestion on Ghodbunder Road, enhance connectivity to the suburbs of Mumbai, and should considerably decrease travel durations. Furthermore, from a political standpoint, this is a clear victory, aligning with broader pledges by the state government to enhance urban infrastructure. Additionally, this initiative may contribute to lowering the pollution levels in Thane city.

Thane / Mumbai Metro 4, 4A Line Future

Once safety and regulatory clearances are obtained, the 10.5 km stretch from Cadbury Junction to Gaimukh is expected to begin carry passengers by late 2025 or early 2026.
Further phases (the rest of Lines 4 and 4A) to be completed by or around 2026, although some reports indicate some spillover into 2027 may happen.

This trial is a key milestone not just in the physical construction but in signalling that Mumbai’s metro expansion is moving from plans to tangible service. It remains to be seen how smoothly operations begin, and whether the timelines are met in full.