India, April 23 -- The Maharashtra government has approved the expansion of Mumbai Metro 5 and a new, integrated line, 5A, together forming a 34.2-km metro network across the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan-Ulhasnagar belt at an estimated cost of Rs.18,130.55 crore, according to a government resolution (GR) issued on Wednesday.

Originally approved in October 2017, Metro 5 was planned as a 24.9-km fully elevated corridor with 17 stations connecting Thane, Bhiwandi and Kalyan, at a cost of Rs.8,416.51 crore. The project is being implemented in two phases, of which the first phase, between Thane and Bhiwandi, spanning 11.9 km with six stations, is now in the final stages of construction. This stretch progressed faster as it did not involve major reha...