The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is accelerating the construction of the Kasheli Metro Depot, which will serve as the main operations, maintenance and stabling facility for Mumbai Metro Line 5. Spread across nearly 27 hectares near the Kasheli Toll Plaza, the depot has achieved 23% overall physical progress as of June 2026. 
The project received statutory environmental clearance in the past year, allowing construction to move ahead. Once completed, the depot will support the entire rolling stock fleet and long-term operations of the nearly 32-kilometre Thane–Bhiwandi–Kalyan–Ulhasnagar Metro corridor. Metro Line 5 is one of MMRDA's major metro projects aimed at improving connectivity across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar while strengthening the public transport network in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. 
To support the early operational readiness of Metro Line 5, MMRDA has adopted a phased construction strategy. Under this approach, essential depot infrastructure is being developed first so that train testing, inspection, maintenance and commissioning activities can begin before the entire depot is completed. 
The Kasheli Metro Depot has been planned as the central operations and maintenance hub for Metro Line 5. It will provide stabling space for around 30 trainsets along with five inspection bay lines and four workshop lines. The facility will also include a dedicated test track, shunting facilities, systems for preventive, corrective and major rolling stock maintenance, a Depot Control Centre, an administrative building, central and specialised storage facilities, staff quarters, a receiving substation, auxiliary power systems, train washing and cleaning infrastructure, sewage and effluent treatment plants, rainwater harvesting systems, underground drainage and firefighting infrastructure. According to MMRDA, the depot has been designed as a fully integrated maintenance ecosystem capable of supporting routine operations, inspections, repairs and long-term asset management. 
The project involves complex engineering due to the presence of soft marine clay deposits extending nearly six to nine metres below the original ground level. To improve the soil's load-bearing capacity and ensure long-term structural stability, MMRDA has implemented an advanced ground improvement programme in consultation with experts from IIT Bombay. 
The ground improvement programme uses Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs) along with staged surcharge loading to accelerate soil consolidation. Around 10 hectares of land were initially taken up under this programme, with nearly 6.2 metres of surcharge embankment placed in stages before major construction activities commenced. 
Construction work is progressing simultaneously across several parts of the depot. Work on the four-storey Depot Control Centre is underway, while foundation work has begun for the essential staff quarters. The lowering of 2,400-mm and 2,750-mm diameter Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) water mains was completed in the past year, removing a major utility-related hurdle for the project. 
Alongside the permanent depot, MMRDA is also developing temporary operational infrastructure to support the early commissioning of Metro Line 5. These facilities include a temporary inspection pit shed with a pre-engineered building structure and bogie turntable, a test track, an Auxiliary Substation (ASS) building and a dedicated shunting neck. These facilities will allow rolling stock inspection, testing, commissioning and train movement during the interim phase without waiting for the permanent depot to be fully completed. 
Once operational, the Kasheli Metro Depot will become the technical and operational backbone of Metro Line 5, supporting safe, reliable and efficient metro services across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar through integrated planning, scientific engineering and phased execution. 
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Kasheli Depot reflects Maharashtra's commitment to building modern and reliable public transport infrastructure. He said Metro Line 5 will strengthen connectivity across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar while supporting the state's vision of a better-connected Maharashtra. 
Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde said the Kasheli Depot will play a central role in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of Metro Line 5. He added that the project's steady progress brings the Mumbai Metropolitan Region closer to faster, reliable and high-capacity public transport connectivity. 
MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee said the Kasheli Depot forms the operational foundation of Metro Line 5. He stated that despite challenging ground conditions, the project is progressing through scientific engineering, careful planning and phased execution, which will support reliable metro operations for decades. 
Source MMRDA