Mumbai Metro Line 6 almost ready, but where are the trains?

Civil works related to the 1531km Mumbai Metro Pink Line 6 which links Swami Samarth Nagar in Lokhandwala and Vikhroli is expected to be ready by October 2024 but trains and a planned car shed at Kanjurmarg are nowhere to be seen The public commissioning of the line has been pushed to 2026 as there have been delays in the procurement of rolling stock due to technical issuesMetro Line 6rsquos alignment mostly falls on the JogeshwariVikhroli Link Roadrsquos median PicSameer MarkandeThe car shed has been delayed as more land is required for it With the delay related to rolling stock and the car shed the commissioning of the Pink Line may not happen this year or next year as planned earlier but will be pushed ahead to 2026What has gone wrongTrains A comprehensive tender for procurement of critical components including rolling stock had been cancelled in October 2023 due to noncompliance with international procurement standards failure to meet the norms of the commissioner of Metro railway safety and other mandatory guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission leading to its retendering and subsequent delay The critical components include design manufacture supply installation integration testing and commissioning of rolling stock communicationbased signalling and train control telecommunication equipment platform screen doors systems and depot machinery The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA will procure 108 standardgauge cars 18 rakes with six coaches each for the Pink LineThe AndheriVikhroli line is being built with funding from the National Development BankHow much time The actual delivery time of trains will be anytime between six and nine months once the tenders are finalisedCar shed Work on the car shed is yet to begin as the existing 15hectare plot is proving to be insufficient The MMRDA is seeking seven additional hectares The MMRDA has floated tenders for work on the available land with Sam India Builtwell being declared the lowest bidder The depot will have 18 stabling lines three inspection bays four workshop bays an 811mlong test track an operations control centre administrative buildings and staff quartersHow much time Work on this is expected to begin soon and take 30 months to complete The delay in these two components has delayed the entire project with the public commissioning of the line has now been pushed to 2026 The pending civil works include the crucial crossing over both railway lines ldquoThe civil works for the line is 75 per cent complete and the work order for the depot civil works has been issued The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026rdquo an official saidThe site of the car shed at Kanjurmarg in 2021 File PicAshish RajeSalient features of Mumbai Metro Pink Line 6gtgt The Pink Line 6 has 13 stations The alignment mostly falls on the JogeshwariVikhroli Link Roadrsquos mediangtgt The fully elevated line connects the Western and Eastern Express Highwaysgtgt It has interchanges with Line 2A at Adarsh Nagar Line 7 at JVLR station Line 3 at Aarey Depot station and Line 4 at Gandhi Nagargtgt It is constructed at a cost of R6716 cr with funding from National Development Bankgtgt Like other Metro lines it has an Integrated ticketing system lifts escalators staircase facilities in addition to improved footpaths with ramps for the differently abled and senior citizensRs 6716 crCost of Pink Line 613No of stations on Line 6