According to The Times of India, Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik has said the first phase of Metro Line 4, from Gaimukh to Cadbury Junction via Kasarvadavali in Thane, is targeted to open by the end of December. Sarnaik gave the date after reviewing Metro 4 and 4A work with MMRDA and Thane Municipal Corporation officials, and said a technical pit at Gaimukh would handle routine train maintenance at first, since services will begin with limited frequency. The Times of India noted that the first phase was earlier promised for December 2025, and that Sarnaik had recently spoken of the opening run being cut short at Kapurbawdi. Reports differ on the size of the first phase, with The Times of India citing nine stations and The Times of Mumbai, in a 27 October report, listing eight stations over about 10.5 km.
This is significant as Ghodbunder Road is one of the most jammed roads in the Mumbai region, and Metro 4 is the first rail option for many of the housing complexes along it. The project has slipped by a full year already, so a firm opening would restore some trust among Thane commuters. Local activists have questioned how useful a partial line will be without links to suburban railway stations.
We believe the December-end target is ambitious, because the first phase still needs final safety clearance and the depot is not ready. A short opening stretch with low frequency will help residents of Kasarvadavali and Gaimukh, but it will do little for office-goers until the line reaches Wadala and connects with other lines. We expect the first phase to open to passengers only after 15 January 2027, not by 31 December 2026. Confidence: low.
This holds significance for our readers because nothing changes on Ghodbunder Road this week, so keep your current commute plans. If you live near Gaimukh or Kasarvadavali, watch for MMRDA notices on CMRS inspections, which usually come a few weeks before any opening. This report rests on a single source within the last 24 hours, so treat the December date as provisional.
The Times of India, 31 October 2026, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/thane-traffic-relief-in-two-years-as-metro-4-coastal-road-nearing-completion-sarnaik/articleshow/135407950.cms
The Times of Mumbai, 27 October 2026, https://thetimesofmumbai.com/thane-metros-first-stretch-gaimukh-to-cadbury-junction-to-open-in-december-sarnaik/
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