Maharashtra Clears Two Big Projects: Nagpur Metro Gets Kanhan Extension, Mumbai Gets Bandra Connector
Maharashtra has just made two of its most awaited infrastructure decisions in a single sitting — and both cities are set to feel the impact for decades to come.
In a Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, two major projects received the green light — a 3.55-kilometre connector linking the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Setu to Bandra Fort in Mumbai, and a 1.40-kilometre elevated Metro extension from Kanhan River to Kanhan City under Nagpur Metro Phase 2.
Here is everything you need to know about both projects, what they cost, who builds them, and what they mean for you.
Project 1: Nagpur Metro Phase 2 — Kanhan Gets Its Own Station
For the people of Kanhan, Kamptee, and Nagpur’s entire northern corridor, this approval has been a long time coming.
What Is Being Built?
Under Nagpur Metro Rail Phase 2, a 1.40-kilometre elevated Metro corridor will be built from Kanhan River to Kanhan City. One elevated station will come up on this stretch. The total project cost is approximately Rs 310.35 crore, and it will be executed by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited — MahaMetro. Work will begin after final approval from the Central Government.
This extension takes the Metro beyond the existing Automotive Square terminal and pushes it northward across the Kanhan River into Kanhan City — a stretch that requires a steel viaduct over the river, making it both technically challenging and strategically vital.
Why Does This Matter?
The Kamptee–Kanhan road corridor is one of the most congested stretches on Nagpur’s outskirts. Thousands of daily commuters from Kanhan travel into Nagpur for work, school, hospitals, and business — and every one of them does it by road today, through bumper-to-bumper traffic.
With this Metro extension in place, Kanhan residents will be able to board an elevated Metro train and reach central Nagpur without touching a single congested junction. It also unlocks real estate and economic development in the area by giving it genuine urban connectivity.
The Kamptee corridor under Phase 2 currently has 12 planned stations. With Kanhan City added, that number goes up to 13 — and the total Phase 2 network length will cross 45 kilometres.
What Is the Bigger Phase 2 Picture?
Nagpur Metro Phase 2 is a massive 43.80-kilometre expansion that stretches in four directions from the existing Phase 1 network — toward Kanhan in the north, Butibori MIDC in the south, Transport Nagar (Kapsi) in the east, and Hingna in the west. The total project cost is around Rs 6,700 crore, with funding from the Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and both Central and State Governments.
The Kanhan extension is the final piece of the northern corridor puzzle. Its approval means Phase 2 is now complete in its planning scope — execution is the only thing left.
Project 2: Mumbai’s Rs 1,722 Crore Bandra Connector — Cutting Travel to 10 Minutes
While Nagpur got its Metro news, Mumbai’s infrastructure story is equally significant.
What Is Being Built?
A 3.55-kilometre connector road will be constructed linking the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Setu to Bandra Fort in Mumbai. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 1,722.40 crore, and it will be executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation — MSRDC. Once completed, the current travel time of 20 to 45 minutes on this route is expected to drop to approximately 10 minutes.
That is a staggering reduction — up to 35 minutes saved on a single commute. For lakhs of Mumbaikars who use this corridor daily, it could meaningfully change their daily routine.
Why Is This Route So Important?
The Bandra–Sea Link corridor is one of Mumbai’s most critical traffic arteries. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link already handles enormous traffic volume, but the connectivity at both ends — particularly the Bandra Fort side — has long been a bottleneck. Vehicles coming off the Sea Link or heading toward it get caught in the maze of Bandra’s narrow roads and junctions.
The new connector will create a clean, direct link between the Sea Link and Bandra Fort, bypassing the worst of the local traffic and dramatically improving throughput on one of the busiest corridors in the country’s financial capital.
Who Builds It?
MSRDC — the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation — will be the implementing agency. MSRDC has an established track record with major Mumbai infrastructure including the Bandra-Worli Sea Link itself, so this project is in experienced hands.
Who Was at the Meeting?
The Cabinet Committee meeting was held in the Cabinet Hall at Vidhan Bhavan. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Public Works Minister Shivendra Sinharaje Bhonsle, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, and other senior officials were present.
The presence of both the Deputy CM and the Public Works Minister signals that these are not just approved-on-paper projects — they have active political ownership at the highest level of the Maharashtra government.
Side by Side: Both Projects at a Glance
| Detail | Nagpur Metro Extension | Mumbai Bandra Connector |
|---|---|---|
| What | Elevated Metro corridor | Road connector |
| From–To | Kanhan River to Kanhan City | Savarkar Setu to Bandra Fort |
| Length | 1.40 km | 3.55 km |
| Cost | Rs 310.35 crore | Rs 1,722.40 crore |
| Executing Agency | MahaMetro | MSRDC |
| Key Benefit | Metro access for Kanhan residents | Travel time cut from 45 min to 10 min |
| Central Nod Needed? | Yes | No |
What Happens Next?
For the Nagpur Metro extension, the state approval is now done. The proposal moves to the Central Government — specifically the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs — for final clearance. Given that Phase 2 already has central approval in principle, this step is expected to move relatively quickly. Once central clearance comes, MahaMetro can begin tendering and construction.
For the Mumbai connector, MSRDC can move directly into detailed design, tendering, and land/permissions groundwork. There is no central clearance required for a road project of this nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Kanhan Metro station open?
The project still needs Central Government approval before construction can begin. Given MahaMetro’s current Phase 2 construction pace, a realistic timeline would be 2028–2029, subject to clearances and tendering.
Will Kanhan Metro be elevated or underground?
It will be fully elevated — an elevated corridor with one elevated station, including a steel viaduct over the Kanhan River.
What is the Mumbai Bandra connector project?
It is a new 3.55-km road linking the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Setu (Sea Link) to Bandra Fort, designed to cut travel time on this route from up to 45 minutes down to just 10 minutes.
Who approved these projects?
The Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved both projects on June 25, 2026.
How is Nagpur Metro Phase 2 funded?
Phase 2 is funded through loans from the Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank, along with equal contributions from the Central and Maharashtra State Governments.
Two cities, two projects, one meeting — and Maharashtra has just moved its infrastructure story forward in a meaningful way. For Nagpur’s northern residents and Mumbai’s daily commuters alike, these approvals are the beginning of real change on the ground.
