Nashik, Maharashtra — Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha Metro) has proposed a 58-km metro network for Nashik city at an estimated cost of ₹14,520 crore, according to the draft Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) presented to local stakeholders.
Two-phase plan aims to meet next two decades of growth
The draft CMP, circulated to municipal officials, elected representatives and resident groups, lays out the proposed mass-transit system in two phases to handle Nashik’s projected travel demand over the next 20 years. Maha Metro has identified three corridors with potential for a Light Metro variant but said a final decision will follow statutory procedures, detailed feasibility assessments and stakeholder consultations.
Phase I comprises two corridors totalling roughly 35 km and is estimated to cost about ₹8,770 crore. The first corridor — linking Gangapur village with Nashik Road — is about 21.5 km and proposed for implementation by 2031. The second corridor connects Mumbai Naka with Pathardi Phata over 13.58 km, with a target completion year of 2036.
Phase II proposes a 23-km corridor between Ambad and Nashik Airport, estimated at ₹5,750 crore, envisaged for implementation by 2046.
| Phase / Corridor | Route | Length (km) | Estimated cost | Target implementation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Gangapur village – Nashik Road | 21.50 | Part of Phase I (₹8,770 crore) | By 2031 |
| Phase I | Mumbai Naka – Pathardi Phata | 13.58 | Part of Phase I (₹8,770 crore) | By 2036 |
| Phase II | Ambad – Nashik Airport | 23.00 | ₹5,750 crore | By 2046 |
Next steps: consultations, data updates and final CMP
Maha Metro officials said the draft CMP was presented to city stakeholders and suggestions were invited. The plan is being revised to incorporate feedback and additional data such as updated population and travel-demand projections. The final CMP is expected to be submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in September for approval, the documents show.
"The corridors identified in the draft CMP have the potential for a Light Metro variant. A final decision will be taken after stakeholder consultations are completed and the plan is finalised," a senior Maha Metro official said, as reported by the Times of India.
- Capacity planning: Maha Metro estimates that the Phase I corridors will handle significant peak-hour passenger traffic, though detailed figures will follow feasibility studies.
- Phasing and finance: The total estimated outlay of ₹14,520 crore will be spread across phases and will require central and state clearances in addition to local approvals.
- Technology choice: The draft flags Light Metro as a likely technology for several corridors, subject to final technical and financial evaluation.
Local civic bodies and planning experts have previously urged that mass-transit proposals be integrated with road upgrades, last-mile connectivity, traffic management and property development plans around proposed stations. Residents of areas such as Gangapur and Nashik Road are likely to press for clarity on land acquisition, station locations and interim traffic arrangements during construction.
Transport unions and private bus operators, who form a substantial part of Nashik’s public-transport ecosystem, will also be stakeholders in the coming consultations. The draft CMP’s timelines — with Phase I works stretching into the mid-2030s and Phase II into the 2040s — mean interim public-transport improvements will be necessary to manage growth while long-term projects proceed.
The draft CMP is the latest attempt to prepare Nashik for rapid urbanisation. With industrial corridors, airport expansion plans and population growth in the Nashik metropolitan region, the city faces mounting pressure to deliver mass-transit solutions that reduce congestion, improve air quality and support economic activity across the city and suburbs.
Officials said Maha Metro will publish revised documents once stakeholder inputs are processed and feasibility studies are complete.
