THANE: The Thane Metro project completed one year since its trial run on September 22, 2025, but regular passenger services are yet to begin. Raising concerns over the delay, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) staged a symbolic protest near Chitalsar-Manpada Police Station on Tuesday.
NCP-SP Marks One Year of Thane Metro Trial Run
The Thane Metro protest was organised under the leadership of NCP-SP district president Manoj Pradhan, with working president Prakash Patil and group leader Abhijit Pawar in attendance. Party workers garlanded the metro route and station signboard and broke a coconut near the tracks, praying for the authorities to expedite the project.
Party Questions Delay in Thane Metro Services
Speaking during the Thane Metro protest, Manoj Pradhan questioned the manner in which the trial run was conducted a year ago. He said that although the authorities had described it as a test run, the event was conducted with ceremonial celebrations. He alleged that the trial was held with the upcoming Thane civic elections in mind.
Demand to Extend Metro to Wadala
The NCP-SP has demanded that the Thane Metro service be started at the earliest and eventually extended to Wadala and CST. Pradhan said improved connectivity could help commuters, particularly those travelling through the heavily congested Ghodbunder Road corridor.
Concerns Over Metro Construction
The protesters also raised concerns about the Thane Metro project’s construction quality and planning. Pradhan alleged that delays in the project were adding to traffic-related difficulties faced by residents and said the party would launch a larger agitation if the work continued to be delayed.
The Wadala-Ghatkopar-Mulund-Kasarvadavali-Gaimukh Metro Lines 4 and 4A together span 35.20 km and are planned to have 32 elevated stations, with the project estimated to cost ₹15,498 crore.
Metro Protest Draws Party Workers
Several local NCP-SP leaders and workers participated in the Thane Metro protest, raising slogans demanding that the metro be opened for commuters and that residents of Ghodbunder Road be provided with better public transport connectivity.