Sanjay Mukherjee, Commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, outlines plans for the city’s first pod taxi system, the progress of ongoing Metro projects, traffic decongestion strategies, and the vision for the region’s broader growth in an interview with Vallabh Ozarkar.Sanjay Mukherjee: The suspension of monorail services is not a setback but a decisive step towards modernisation. We are installing a world-class Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system, indigenously developed in Hyderabad, and inducting 10 new rakes under the Make-in-India initiative.Eight rakes have already been delivered and two more will arrive shortly. When services run daily, we get only three-and-a-half hours at night for upgrades, which slows work. Temporarily suspending services allows us to finish upgrades almost four times faster. We are also retrofitting older rakes, training manpower, and carrying out integrated testing. When the monorail returns, it will be safer, smoother, and more reliable – very close to the experience Mumbaikars enjoy on the Metro.What is the status of ongoing Metro projects, and when is CMRS certification for Metro Line 2B expected?Sanjay Mukherjee: Metro Line 2B, connecting DN Nagar to Mandale, is in the final lap with 90 per cent of civil works complete. We expect certification from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) by the first week of October 2025. Line 9 has already had its first CMRS inspection, and trial runs are underway on Lines 4, 4A, and others.Line 4 (Wadala–Kasarvadavali): is 86 per cent complete, Line 4A (Kasarvadavali–Gaimukh) is 95 per cent complete, Line 5 Phase I (Thane–Bhiwandi) is 96 per cent complete, Line 6 (Swami Samarthnagar–Vikhroli) is 80 per cent complete, Line 9 (Dahisar–Mira Bhayander) is 98 per cent complete, Line 7A (Andheri East–CSMIA) is 62 per cent complete, Line 12 (Kalyan–Taloja) is 12 per cent complete. By the end of this year, we plan to operationalise several corridors. Lakhs of citizens will start experiencing faster, greener, and more reliable travel before 2026.What is the current status of the pod taxi project, and what hurdles are delaying its rollout?Sanjay Mukherjee: The project at BKC will be India’s first. Small, air-conditioned pods will run on demand without intermediate stops. We have awarded the project to Sai Green Mobility, and construction should begin by November 2025, with completion in three years.The main challenge is land near Bandra and Kurla suburban stations. Both Central and Western Railways have their own development priorities, so we are now in talks with the Mumbai police to secure 6,800 sq m near Kurla. Once implemented, this will be a game-changer — easing congestion, reducing dependence on rickshaws, and showcasing Mumbai as a leader in futuristic mobility.Story continues below this adWhat is the current ridership of the Metro, and how does it compare with projections?Sanjay Mukherjee: In September 2025, Mumbai Metro carried nearly 7.7 million passengers. The average weekday ridership has crossed 3.1 lakh, with 2.3 lakh on Saturdays and 1.4 lakh on Sundays. Every new section we open sees sharp ridership increases, proving citizens are shifting to the Metro for speed, reliability, and sustainability.Future ridership projections by 2031, once the full network is operational, is as follows:Line 2B: 10.5 lakh dailyLine 4: 12.1 lakh dailyLine 2A: 6.09 lakh dailyLine 7: 6.7 lakh dailyLine 5: 3.03 lakh dailyLine 6: 7.7 lakh dailyLine 9 & 7A: 11.12 lakh dailyLine 12: 2.26 lakh dailyTogether, that is nearly 60 lakh passengers daily by 2031.What measures have been planned to control traffic congestion in Thane?Sanjay Mukherjee: On roads, we are widening the Ghodbunder Road to a 14-lane concrete corridor, developing 23 internal roads worth Rs 700 crore, and constructing a Rs 1,800-crore elevated Anand Nagar–Saket bypass. The Rs 2,200-crore Thane Coastal Road will provide a parallel east–west corridor. On rails, Metro Lines 4, 4A, and 5 will transform mobility. Metro 4 Phase I from Gaimukh to Cadbury Junction is targeted for April 2026, and Phase II to Mulund by October 2026. We are also conducting a traffic simulation study to design short, medium, and long-term congestion solutions.Story continues below this adWhat role does the MMRDA plan to play in addressing Mumbai’s growing traffic congestion?Sanjay Mukherjee: Our vision is ‘Mumbai in Minutes.’ We aim to ensure that travel across the MMR takes no more than an hour. To achieve this, we are developing 300+ km of Metro lines, seven ring roads, and critical projects like the Versova–Virar Sea Link, Thane–Borivali twin tunnel, and Sewri–Worli connector. On the digital side, we have launched the MMRDA Mobile Ticketing App on ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), and are building a Common Mobility App to integrate ticketing across Metro, buses, and suburban rail.Are there plans for connectivity to the airport and the upcoming bullet train station?Sanjay Mukherjee: Yes. The BKC high-speed rail terminal is being designed as a multimodal hub with underground integration to Metro Line 3 and direct links to Lines 2A and 2B. In the future, a passenger could land at Mumbai Airport, take the Metro to BKC, and board the bullet train to Ahmedabad seamlessly. We are also ensuring quick access from South Mumbai via the Coastal Road, Orange Gate tunnel, and Marine Drive expansion; from Thane and Vasai–Virar via sea links and twin tunnels; and from Navi Mumbai through Atal Setu.MMRDA was once seen as short on funds. How are today’s massive projects being financed?Sanjay Mukherjee: We have diversified financing from global institutions like the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and (German lender) KfW; and have domestic mechanisms like development charges and premium recoveries from BKC land parcels. At Davos (World Economic Forum), the MMRDA attracted over $40 billion of commitments.Importantly, financial closure has been achieved for big projects like Metro corridors and the Orange Gate tunnel. Non-fare revenue streams such as advertising, commercial spaces, and digital ticketing apps also strengthen our finances. This allows us to push projects worth lakhs of crores, laying the foundation for Mumbai to become a trillion-dollar economy by 2047.Story continues below this adWith Worli Dairy and Kharbhav Integrated Business Park now under MMRDA, how do these projects fit the growth vision?Sanjay Mukherjee: Worli Dairy will be developed as a new BKC for South Mumbai – a mixed-use waterfront district combining business, culture, and recreation. Kharbhav Integrated Business Park in Bhiwandi, spread over 58 sq km, aligns with the NITI Aayog Growth Hub framework, leveraging proximity to JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) and Navi Mumbai Airport to boost industry and jobs. Together with BKC, Worli, and Kharbhav, MMR will have a triad of global economic hubs — financial, cultural, and industrial — propelling Mumbai towards the trillion-dollar economy goal under Vision Maharashtra and Viksit Bharat.