A fresh political and administrative push has revived plans to run six-coach trains on Mumbai Metro Blue Line 1 (Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar), a long-discussed upgrade from the present four-coach configuration. The coming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election might act as a political trigger for the much-needed push.
The move aims to ease rush-hour crowding and boost carrying capacity significantly, but sources and stakeholders acknowledge the proposal remains tangled in disputes, financing questions, and operational complexity.
Why now?
Crowding has persisted on the Blue Line, especially at interchange hubs. A six-coach configuration could provide a sizable capacity boost and shorter dwell pressures during peak hours.
Commuters at Ghatkopar Metro station on July 9. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE
Sources said the tendering process for additional coaches and associated works is proceeding, with documents expected to emphasise interoperability with existing rolling stock and staged delivery, and availability guarantees. There are no timelines yet, as it is an ongoing process.
If tenders land smoothly, contracts are awarded, and funding closes on time, the first extended trains could debut in phases — initially during peak periods — before a broader fleet conversion.
However, insiders caution that each of the following could affect schedules: contract negotiations, technical integration, regulatory approvals, and any legal or financial objections that may arise because of the involvement of the lender.
Sources said lenders have been engaged on the debt linked to the project, a step stakeholders say is essential to clearing the balance sheet and future investments. While this doesn’t automatically green-light procurement, it is viewed as a necessary pathway for lenders and promoters to agree on funding the upgrade.
mid-day has been consistently highlighting the issue, and with the number of passengers crushed into limited space per square metre during peak hours, transport experts have unanimously agreed that it is high time operators converted small four-car trains into six-coach ones.
The hard facts
It’s a real problem: Overcrowding is chronic; any relief is likely to be welcomed by daily riders. There is willingness: Both political and bureaucratic signals suggest intent to move ahead. It’s disputed and complicated: Line 1’s public-private structure has seen long-running disagreements over costs, fares, and responsibilities. Also, converting fleets mid-life involves multiple existing contracts, issues related to rolling stock supply, depot capacity, platform adjustments, and signalling revalidation.
What’s being proposed?
>> Convert Metro 1 services from four to six coaches to expand peak-hour capacity.
>> Procure additional cars and carry out related platform, signalling, stabling, and power-supply works through a competitive tender
>> Sequence the rollout to minimise service disruption, starting with a limited number of rakes and scaling up
