Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde flags off the trial run and technical inspection of Phase-1 of Mumbai Metro Route-9, connecting Kashigaon to Dahisar (East), Maharashtra. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that no one can halt the development momentum of the state, asserting that the Mahayuti government is working at full speed across sectors. Speaking to reporters at Kashigaon—around 20km from Thane—Fadnavis said the Kashigaon-Dahisar metro line, part of the larger Mumbai Metro expansion, is in its final stages of technical testing and will soon be operational. The line, once opened, is expected to significantly ease congestion on the Western Express Highway and bring much-needed relief to daily commuters. Responding to questions about the ruling coalition, Fadnavis said, “All three parties are together and we are running the state’s development express in a speedy manner. No one can put a speed-breaker in it. If they (opposition) want to give a booster, it is a different thing. There is no room for a speed-breaker here.”

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Calling the metro system the “best medium” for urban transport, he said the upcoming launch of this phase will add to the metro lines already connecting parts of Mumbai like Andheri. The objective is to create “seamless connectivity” along the Western Express Highway, from NS Bose Maidan to Bandra, with phased development currently underway. Highlighting a major feature of the project, the CM said, “The good thing about this project is that for the first time in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), a double-decker bridge is being built. This innovative design will help decongest critical stretches such as Mira Bhayandar.” He further announced future plans, including metro connectivity extending up to Virar, and emphasised the need for better integration across metro lines to provide end-to-end commuting solutions. Commending the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for its role in driving the project, Fadnavis said the government is now aiming to accelerate the pace of construction. “Henceforth, we will work with extra speed. This year, 50 kilometres and next year, 62 kilometres—we have decided to carry out works in such phases,” he added. Fadnavis reiterated the government’s commitment to completing the metro network that began in 2015. “The major network which we started will be completed by the end of 2027. This is our aim, due to which people in Mumbai and the MMR will be most benefited for travel,” he said. He also confirmed that a bullet train station is coming up near Vadhvan in Palghar, and integration planning for that is in progress. Deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, were present at the event.