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The proposed Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project (TIRMRP) is expected to receive environmental clearance on Monday. However, the project has raised concerns because it will affect thousands of mangroves and trees, as well as parts of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and its eco-sensitive zone.
Thane Metro Project
The project, being developed by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited, will pass through Thane's urban areas as well as environmentally sensitive regions. These include the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the west, the Ulhas River system in the north and east, and the Thane Creek estuary in the south.
The ₹12,200-crore metro project was planned to improve public transport in Thane as the city's population continues to grow. The foundation stone was laid before the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. The metro will also connect with Thane Railway Station and Mumbai Metro Lines 4 and 5, making travel easier through better integration with existing transport systems.
The project includes a 27.04-km circular metro corridor and a 1.18-km depot link. It will include 22 stations, including 20 elevated and two underground.
Why is Thane Metro Essential?
Government officials say the metro is needed because Thane's roads are becoming increasingly crowded, leading to traffic jams and longer travel times. The new metro is expected to provide a faster and more reliable transport option for people travelling across residential, commercial, and institutional areas.
Thane Metro Project to Affect the Ecology & Environmentalists' Concerns
However, the project will affect around 5,380 mangroves and over 3,000 trees. It will also pass through about 500 metres of the protected Sanjay Gandhi National Park and nearly 3.6 km of its eco-sensitive zone. At present, there is no final plan to compensate for the loss of mangroves. Officials said the Mangrove Protection Cell will decide the compensatory plantation plan later. For one section of the project, 2,910 trees will be planted to replace 303 trees that will be cut.
Environmentalists have strongly opposed the project. Activist Rohit Joshi said residents have already started protesting. He believes the project will increase congestion during construction and suggested that the government should invest in electric buses instead of spending over ₹12,000 crore on the ring metro. He also warned that underground construction could disrupt bus services in some areas for nearly four years.