100 Climate actions from cities in Asia and the Pacific

Mumbai, India

Mumbai Metro Moves the Masses

160K tons of CO₂ EMISSIONS reduced annually

Inhabitants 12 million GDP per capita $10,460 Geographic area 440 km²

THE CHALLENGE Overcrowding and severe safety problems in Mumbai have led to a large number of fatalities per year and has left many commuters to rely on private transport options emphasizing the need for a new modern rail system.

Mumbai is developing a modern and safe metro rail system in an effort to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector, as well as improve air quality and decongest traffic.

The Metro Rail System is currently being developed in Mumbai, which has the most crowded public transportation system in the world. The first of 12 metro lines was completed in 2014, with more due to be finalized in 2022. The new metro will employ trains using regenerative braking to reduce energy consumption by enabling the vehicle’s kinetic energy to be converted back to electrical energy, as well as modern signaling systems that employ communications-based train control technology.

Safety and inclusion measures are also being introduced. Safety measures include surveillance systems, door closing and train obstacle detectors, and platforms with automatic doors. Inclusion measures include women-only carriages, mobile applications for women’s security, separate women’s ticket counters, reporting desks to address incidents of harassment, and priority e-ticket counters for the elderly and passengers with disabilities.

The project marks ADB’s first cofinancing with the Shanghai-based New Development Bank, which will provide $260 million, while ADB will provide $926 million toward the project.

Co-benefits Social To further emphasize the metro’s inclusion measures, a station staffed only by women will be established.

Health To prevent passengers from falling onto the tracks due to overcrowding, platforms will have automatic doors that are synchronized with trains.

Anticipated ridership. Once the new metro is fully operational, millions of passengers will benefit from the system (photo by Mumbai Metropolitan Development Authority).

54 100 CLIMATE ACTIONS FROM CITIES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC