Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has asked the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) to begin inspection of the Metro Line 2B extension up to Chembur metro station on the Sion-Trombay Road, as it moves to operationalise a crucial interchange with the monorail network, which has remained shut since Nov 2023 following a major technical snag.The proposed Chembur station, located next to the operational Diamond Garden station, will extend the Phase I stretch between Diamond Garden and Mandale, opened on April 8. Officials said the extension is aimed at strengthening connectivity in the eastern suburbs while enabling seamless integration with the monorail.An MMRDA official said, “We are targeting to open this stretch this monsoon.”The Chembur metro station is within 100 metres of the V N Purav Marg monorail station, allowing commuters to easily switch modes. This integration is expected to particularly benefit passengers heading towards Chembur and south Mumbai. Commuters alighting at Chembur metro station can take the monorail from V N Purav Marg to reach Chembur monorail station, which is about 200 metres from Chembur railway station on the Harbour Line, enabling further rail connectivity.The monorail corridor also extends up to Mahalaxmi at Jacob Circle, offering a direct link to south-central Mumbai. From Mahalaxmi, commuters can access Metro 3 (Aqua Line) to travel towards Worli and Cuffe Parade, thereby creating a wider multimodal network once services resume.Work on the Chembur metro station is at an advanced stage, with staircases and access infrastructure nearing completion. Sources said MMRDA is awaiting the CMRS inspection schedule, after which the extension could be opened to the public.The authority expects the extension to boost ridership on Line 2B due to its location near Swastik Park junction, which offers connectivity to Kurla via BEST buses and autorickshaws.Line 2B recorded an average daily ridership of 3,992 during the period between April 8 and 14.Officials added that Line 2B will eventually connect with the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and integrate with the existing Metro Line 2A between Andheri West and Dahisar, significantly strengthening east-west connectivity across the city.
