'Mumbai 1' card to unify public transport soon

Mumbai

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced that ‘MUMBAI 1’, a unified travel card for public transport across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), will be launched soon. Speaking alongside Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Fadnavis said the card will allow seamless travel on Metro, Mono Rail, local trains, and public buses. He added that the card’s architecture will be ready within a month.

Railway Minister Vaishnaw shared that ongoing railway projects in Maharashtra are worth ₹1,73,804 crore, with fresh works of ₹23,778 crore approved this year. Mumbai’s suburban network will receive 238 new air-conditioned trains, with production starting soon. He also mentioned that ₹17,000 crore worth of infrastructure work is progressing in Mumbai, which will significantly improve the city’s railway system.

Chief Minister Fadnavis also announced that the Gondia-Ballarshah railway line has received approval, enhancing connectivity between Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. The Union government’s contribution to this project will be ₹4,019 crore.

In addition, Fadnavis revealed plans for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit Train. This tourist train will cover historical forts linked to the Maratha empire’s founder, aiming to boost cultural tourism in the state.

The announcements highlight the government’s focus on integrated transport and regional connectivity to meet the city’s growing infrastructure needs.