In a move that could revolutionise transportation in India’s business capital, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has planned a 450 km long network of metro rail corridors for the city and surroundings - the third largest in the world, a top official said in December.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which comprises Mumbai and parts of adjacent Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts, is aimed to get metro rail connectivity which will be next only to Shanghai and Beijing.

“The MMRDA has proposed to build 450 kms of metro rail and another network of monorail corridors which would offer efficient, convenient and environment friendly transportation system over the next 8-10 years,” said MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner U.P.S. Madan at the Third Regional Dialogue, Mumbai, leading to the upcoming 15th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit scheduled in February.

Madan said that the Government is working towards designing a transportation system that would ensure sustainable and smart mobility in the MMR.

He pointed out that given the changing income levels of the citizens, nearly 75 percent of the MMR population relies on public transportation against 80 percent population which was dependent on it earlier. “Trains are cheap, eco-friendly and fast mode of transport - the people of Mumbai must be encouraged to use this mode by enabling better quality of services,” Madan said.