Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL) Managing Director Ashwini Bhide has emphasised the urgent need for a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) to ensure faster, more direct connectivity for daily commuters, especially those travelling to emerging industrial hubs around Mumbai.
Speaking on the Powertrain YouTube podcast hosted by Aakash Bhavsar, Bhide highlighted the clear advantages of RRTS over the city’s existing transport options. Unlike metro or suburban trains that make frequent stops, RRTS stations are typically spaced 8 km or more apart, enabling trains to run at much higher speeds. Citing the Delhi–Meerut RRTS corridor—where trains reach speeds of up to 180 kmph—she said Mumbai needs a similar next-generation transit system to keep pace with rising travel demands.
While Maharashtra is currently expanding the metro network, Bhide stressed that long-term planning must incorporate an RRTS corridor. Many industrial zones around Mumbai attract large numbers of daily commuters who today depend on a combination of private vehicles, crowded local trains, and additional last-mile transport links. A high-speed RRTS line with limited stops, she said, would drastically cut travel times and streamline movement between major employment clusters.
“If we can identify pockets where bulk travel is happening between fixed points, with fewer stations in between, the journey can be extremely fast,” Bhide noted. She also pointed out that though Mumbai has limited space for new industrial development, frontier-tech industries and logistics hubs must still remain within fast reach of the city.
Vadhavan Port Development Strengthens Case for RRTS
Bhide underscored that upcoming large-scale infrastructure projects—particularly the Vadhavan Port in Palghar—will significantly increase travel demand. “The area around Vadhavan in Palghar is going to get a boost, not only in terms of port-related activities but also in new investment opportunities. Such areas need direct connectivity from Mumbai, which is much faster than the suburban rails and the metro,” she said.
With the port expected to become one of India’s largest on the west coast, the need for a swift, reliable, and high-capacity transit link between Mumbai and Palghar is becoming increasingly evident.
Bhide concluded that there is “definite scope for an RRTS in and around Mumbai,” adding that the Maharashtra government is actively studying possibilities for developing the system.
