Mumbai metro line 4 achieves milestone with U-girder installation at Kapurbawdi station
Each U-girder, weighing approximately 97.92 metric tonnes and spanning 18 metres, was launched and installed within just eight hours, marking it as a first for any Mumbai Metro project executed by the MMRDA. This achievement is seen as critical, as the agency plans to begin trial runs on the stretch before the end of this year, as recently announced by MMRDA chairman and deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
The Kapurbawdi station is a key interchange connecting Metro Line 4 (Wadala–Gaimukh) and Line 5 (Thane–Bhiwandi–Kalyan), making this construction phase vital.
A coordinated team of engineers, workers, traffic police, and marshals deployed heavy-duty machinery—including a 550-tonne crane and three 500-tonne cranes—to complete the launching of the collectively 783.3-tonne heavy girders safely and efficiently at its location.
"One of the biggest challenges was managing heavy traffic along Ghodbunder Road," said an MMRDA spokesperson. "Our teams created a detailed girder launching plan, conducted risk analysis, and coordinated with Thane traffic police to ensure a smooth execution with minimal disruption.
Fortunately, everything went as planned, and the work finished ahead of schedule."
Stretching 32.3 km and featuring 30 elevated stations, Metro Line 4 is poised to become the backbone of East Mumbai's transit network. It will integrate with the Eastern Express Highway, Central Railway, Mono Rail, and future Metro Lines 2B, 5, and 6, aiming to cut commute times by 50–75%.
Meanwhile, following Shinde's recent announcement, the MMRDA is preparing to conduct a trial run on at least a small 10-km stretch between Cadbury Junction (Eastern Express Highway) and Gaimukh (Ghodbunder Road). Line 4, which connects Wadala with Kasarwadavli, extends further to Gaimukh as Line 4A, further strengthening Mumbai's metro connectivity. Once operational, it promises to significantly ease travel for thousands of commuters.
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