The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has extended operating hours on Metro Lines 2A (Yellow) and 7 (Red), as the city prepares for its biggest festival. From 27 August to 6 September, trains will run until midnight, giving devotees easier access to major Ganpati pandals while easing traffic on key suburban routes. Under the revised schedule, the last trains from Andheri West (Line 2A) and Gundavali (Line 7) will depart at 12 AM, an hour later than usual.

The decision comes in anticipation of a heavy passenger surge during the ten-day Ganesh festival, when traffic congestion on Mumbai roads typically reaches its peak. According to reports, MMRDA Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee stated that trains will also run more frequently.

“On weekdays, services will increase during peak hours, while on Sundays trains will operate with a 10-minute frequency. The focus is to ensure safe, reliable, and convenient travel for citizens during Ganeshotsav”, he stated.

• Weekdays (Mon–Fri): 317 trips (12 more than usual). Trains every 5 min 50 seconds during peak hours and every 9 min 30 sec in non-peak hours.

• Saturdays: 256 services (up by 12). Trains every 8 minutes in peak hours and every 10 min 25 sec in off-peak hours.

• Sundays: 229 services (up by 12). One train every 10 minutes. Additional services may be added depending on demand.

Rubal Agarwal, Managing Director of MMMOCL (Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Limited), noted that the move would help devotees reach major Ganesh mandals without battling long traffic jams on Link Road, SV Road, and Western Express Highway.

• Route: Dahisar East to Andheri West (D.N. Nagar interchange)

• Length: 18.6 km, 17 elevated stations

• Travel time: 35–40 minutes (compared to 1.5–2 hours by road)

• Key connections: Line 1 (Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar) and Line 7 at Dahisar East

• Route: Dahisar East to Gundavali (Andheri East)

• Length: 16.5 km, 13 elevated stations

• Travel time: ~35 minutes

• Key connections: Line 1 at Andheri (WEH), Line 2A at Dahisar East

Together, Metro Lines 2A and 7 already carry more than 3.3 lakh passengers daily, a number projected to rise sharply during the celebrations. These two lines also form a crucial east-west and north-south link across Mumbai’s western suburbs. The extended timings are now expected to significantly ease festival travel and encourage more citizens to opt for metros during Ganeshotsav 2025.