Thane city gets a Light Metro. What is it?

Mumbai’s neighbouring Thane city has come up with their own city version of ‘Chhota Metro’. The proposal was cleared at the General Body meeting of the Thane Municipal Corporation on Wednesday evening. The Metro Lite or Light Rail Transit (LRT) is basically a smaller version of the Metro train, same gauge, but small sized trains with lesser axle load and carrying capacity. (The table at the bottom specifies the difference clearly).

The LRT will basically serve as feeder service to MMRDA’s Green Line 4 that runs between Wadala and Kasarvadavali in Thane. The Wadala to Kasarvadavali line 32.32 km-long-elevated corridor with 32 stations.

The decision of LRT Metro is following the recommendations of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to TMC as LRT is cost-effective as compared to Metro.

“The LRT will be more of a feeder service to the Green Line and the Central Railway trains at the old and the new Thane station and will be in a ring route form. The carrying capacity and speed of LRT is less compared to Metro train, but that will be sufficient for Thane. The LRT will also be partly elevated and partly underground with 26 stations,” a senior official said.

The Light Rail Transit will have 22 stations, linking existing Thane railway station, the new proposed Thane station at Kopri of Central Railway, the Metro Line 4 and 5 stations, go all the way till Wadavli where a depot has been planned, move back towards Balkum naka and reach CIDCO bus stand near old Thane railway station in a circular way.

• Metro-Cost including rolling stock, tracks, carshed and land requirements Rs 13,095 crore
• LRT -Cost including rolling stock, tracks, carshed and land requirements Rs 7,165 crore.