Planned Preparation and Citizens’ Cooperation Made the Underground Metro Project a Success – Managing Director Ashwini Bhide

Journey of Mumbai’s Underground Metro Construction Highlighted at the Late B.G. Deshmukh Memorial Lecture Series

Mumbai, Nov 2025 : Large-scale infrastructure projects like the Metro and the Coastal Road hold extraordinary importance in ensuring smooth and efficient transportation in Mumbai. Despite initial challenges—legal and environmental clearances, technical issues, and citizen concerns—the projects succeeded due to meticulous planning, transparent communication, coordination among various government agencies, and active public participation, said Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister and Managing Director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, Ashwini Bhide.

She was speaking at the late B.G. Deshmukh Memorial Lecture Series organised by the Maharashtra branch of the Indian Institute of Public Administration. During the session, Bhide explained the planning and methodology behind the execution of the Metro and Coastal Road projects. Additional Chief Secretary (Administrative Reforms, Excellence, and Good Governance) Rajesh Aggarwal was present as the chief guest. Former Chief Secretary and President of the Institute Swadhin Kshatriya, Honorary Secretary Vijay Satbir Singh, Treasurer Vikas Devdhar, and others were also present.
Bhide delivered a presentation detailing the complete construction journey of India’s first fully underground Metro Line 3, from Colaba to SEEPZ.

Additional Chief Secretary Bhide said the fully underground metro project is not just an engineering feat but an outstanding example of social engineering. Even while work continued for more than five years in busy, densely populated areas, the team succeeded in maintaining public trust through extensive public communication and transparent updates on social media. Attention to safety, high-quality execution, and clearly assigned responsibilities ensured that not a single untoward incident occurred during the entire construction period.

She noted that timely completion of the project was made possible due to robust pre-planning, strong and committed leadership, quick decision-making, continuous site monitoring and review, effective teamwork, use of modern technology, open communication with citizens, a problem-solving approach, and firm political will. Coordination among Mumbai Police, the Municipal Corporation, Port Trusts, Railways, Defence authorities, and the Airport Authority—along with consistent guidance from the Chief Minister’s War Room—also accelerated the project.

Mumbai continues to attract a large population as the nation’s financial capital. Its narrow and peninsula-like geography puts immense pressure on infrastructure, especially transportation systems. To ease this burden, modern and inclusive solutions are necessary, making projects like the underground metro and coastal road essential, Bhide added.

She mentioned that several major projects—including the Atal Setu, the Marine Drive–Bandra Worli Sea Link Coastal Road, and the Navi Mumbai International Airport—have already been completed. Work is underway on the Bandra–Versova, Versova–Dahisar–Bhayandar–Uttan–Virar coastal routes, the Worli–Sewri connector, the Western Express Highway–Samruddhi Mahamarg link, the Borivali–Thane tunnel, the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road, and the Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel. In addition, the Virar–Alibaug Multi-Purpose Corridor and the Vadhavan Port project will commence soon.

Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal said that constructing an underground metro in a city like Mumbai is an extremely difficult task, but Maharashtra has successfully achieved it. Observing this success, there is now a demand to build more underground metro lines in Delhi as well. Such projects provide quality services to citizens. He emphasized that everyone in administration must work with a collective and positive spirit, keeping citizens’ welfare at the forefront. Administrative reforms are being implemented with this objective.

Institute President Swadhin Kshatriya welcomed the guests and introduced them. Praising Bhide, he said her name will be recorded in history for the underground metro project, proving that exemplary work can be done by remaining grounded.

In the introductory remarks, Satbir Singh highlighted the various activities undertaken by the Maharashtra branch of the Indian Institute of Public Administration.