Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has recorded significant progress in the construction of the Kasheli Metro Depot, a critical component of the Mumbai Metro Line 5 project that will serve as the operational and maintenance hub for the Thane–Bhiwandi–Kalyan–Ulhasnagar corridor.
According to MMRDA, the depot, spread across nearly 27 hectares near the Kasheli Toll Plaza, has achieved 23 percent physical progress as of June 2026. Construction accelerated after the project received all statutory environmental clearances in August 2025. The authority has adopted a phased execution strategy to ensure that essential operational facilities become available well before the depot is fully completed, enabling testing and commissioning activities for Metro Line 5.
The Kasheli Depot has been designed as the central facility for train stabling, inspection, maintenance and operational control of the approximately 32-kilometre Metro Line 5. Once operational, it will support the entire fleet deployed on the corridor connecting Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar, ensuring reliable day-to-day operations and long-term asset management.
The depot will accommodate around 30 trainsets and include inspection bays, workshop facilities, a dedicated test track, shunting infrastructure, a Depot Control Centre, administrative offices, storage facilities, staff accommodation, power supply systems, train washing and cleaning facilities, sewage and effluent treatment plants, rainwater harvesting systems, underground drainage and integrated firefighting infrastructure. MMRDA said the facility has been planned as a comprehensive maintenance ecosystem capable of supporting routine inspections, major repairs and lifecycle management of Metro Line 5’s rolling stock.
One of the major engineering challenges has been the site’s soft marine clay deposits, extending between six and nine metres below ground level. To address this, MMRDA has implemented an advanced ground improvement programme in consultation with experts from IIT Bombay. The authority is using Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs) along with staged surcharge loading to accelerate soil consolidation and improve long-term ground stability before major structural works.
Construction activities are progressing simultaneously across multiple structures within the depot. Work is underway on the four-storey Depot Control Centre, while foundation work has commenced for staff residential facilities. The relocation of major Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) water mains, a critical prerequisite for the project, was completed in November 2025.
To facilitate the early commissioning of Metro Line 5, MMRDA is simultaneously developing temporary operational facilities alongside the permanent depot infrastructure. These include a temporary inspection pit shed, test track, auxiliary substation and shunting facilities, allowing train testing, inspection and commissioning activities to begin before the depot reaches full completion. The authority expects this phased approach to help expedite the commencement of metro services on the corridor.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Kasheli Depot reflects Maharashtra’s commitment to developing modern and dependable public transport infrastructure. He said Metro Line 5 would strengthen connectivity across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar while supporting the state’s broader vision of integrated and sustainable urban development.
Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde said the depot would form the backbone of Metro Line 5 operations, playing a vital role in ensuring safe, efficient and reliable metro services. He said the project’s steady progress brings the Mumbai Metropolitan Region closer to providing high-capacity public transport connectivity for rapidly growing urban centres.
MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee said the Kasheli Depot represents the operational foundation of Metro Line 5. Despite difficult geotechnical conditions, he said the project is advancing through scientific engineering, careful planning and phased execution, creating infrastructure designed to support reliable metro operations for decades.
The Kasheli Depot forms a key part of MMRDA’s strategy to build an integrated metro network across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. By combining advanced engineering techniques with phased implementation, the authority aims to accelerate the delivery of Metro Line 5 and improve sustainable, efficient public transport connectivity for the rapidly expanding urban belt extending from Thane to Ulhasnagar.
