Mumbai Metro One Launches Evening Short-Loop Services on Andheri-Ghatkopar Route
Mumbai Metro One introduced short-loop services along the heavily congested Andheri-Ghatkopar stretch on Monday during evening peak hours. The new service pattern aims to reduce commuter waiting times and ease severe overcrowding at several intermediate stops, including Marol Naka in Andheri.
Under the newly introduced mixed-loop system, one train operates exclusively between Ghatkopar and Andheri, followed by another train running on the standard Ghatkopar-Versova route. This operational adjustment has successfully reduced the evening peak-hour headway between Andheri and Ghatkopar from 3 minutes 20 seconds down to three minutes.
According to details provided by Mumbai Metro One, the shift increases overall carrying capacity by more than 20 percent. This is equivalent to approximately 28,000 additional commuter trips each day and directly benefits over 85 percent of passengers who travel along the Ghatkopar-Andheri section. As a result of the change, total weekday services on the metro corridor have risen from 476 to 484.
While passengers have welcomed the evening schedule change, many commuters are urging the operator to extend the short-loop arrangement to the morning peak hours. Severe crowding and long queues continue to cause delays for commuters traveling towards Andheri from Ghatkopar during morning commute hours.
Bhandup resident Sandesh Panchal, who regularly commutes towards Andheri for work, praised the evening update but emphasized that short-loop trains are equally critical during the morning rush. Panchal noted that such measures could help distribute crowds and relieve pressure on heavily packed trains. He further pointed out that Metro One has been operational for over 12 years without any additions to its fleet, arguing that expanding existing trains with extra coaches and introducing new rakes are essential to handle long-term passenger growth.
Another regular commuter stated that long morning queues at Ghatkopar remain a significant daily challenge. The commuter noted that while operational tweaks provide temporary relief, rising demand urgently requires additional rolling stock. Addressing the feedback, the metro operator stated that it continuously analyses travel patterns to improve frequency, carrying capacity, and service reliability across the network.
