Pink Line 6, or the Swami Samarth Nagar–Jogeshwari–Vikhroli–Kanjurmarg line, is an under construction rapid transit line in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, and part of the Mumbai Metro system. The elevated line will connect Lokhandwala Complex with Vikhroli with 13 stations.
Line 6 will also provide interchanges with Yellow Line 2 at Adarsh Nagar, with Aqua Line 3 at SEEPZ, with Green Line 4 at Kanjurmarg West, and with Red Line 7 at Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road. It also offers connectivity with the Mumbai Suburban Railway's Western line at Jogeshwari and with the Central line at Kanjurmarg.
Line 6 is expected to open by 2025.
Planning
A metro line connecting Bandra Kurla Complex with Kanjurmarg via the airport was proposed as Line 6 in the original Mumbai Metro master plan unveiled by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) in 2004. In June 2015, the MMRDA proposed building a 12 km metro line from JVLR to Kanjurmarg as part of a plan to build 6 new metro lines at a total estimated cost of . On 19 October 2016, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved a plan to build a 14.47 km metro rail line connecting Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri to Vikhroli and Kanjurmarg in the east. The line would have 13 stations and was estimated to cost . The detailed project report for Line 6 was prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in December 2016. The project was approved by the Maharashtra Cabinet on 24 October 2017.
The MMRDA issued a tender to conduct a detailed aerial mapping survey of the alignment in April 2017. Authorities were to determine the location of trees along the alignment with an accuracy of up to , utilizing a differential GPS (DGPS), while a digital aerial triangulation system is to help determine the types of trees, their heights and diameters. The project received Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) in June 2017. A 1.1 km stretch of Line 6 passes through CRZ areas at the junction of the JVLR and the Eastern Express Highway near Nehru Nagar. The MMRDA utilized a drone to carry out survey work for Line 6. The drones were fitted with 360 degrees camera that provide up to 3 millimetres (0.12 in) accuracy. The aerial survey takes less time than a regular survey, achieves greater accuracy and helps protect against false claims for compensation.
In November 2017, the MMRDA stated that it had reached an agreement with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to build a 2 km section of Line 6 on a common pier with a flyover. The BMC had been planning to build a flyover connecting Jogeshwari West and the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) along the same alignment of Line 6. Per the agreement, the metro piers and viaduct would be constructed first and the flyover would be built below it. Line 6 forms the top deck of a three deck structure on this 2 km stretch as the flyover itself passes over an existing rail overbridge.
In April 2018, the BMC stated that it was putting work on a proposed crocodile park at Powai Lake on hold until Line 6 was completed. The MMRDA faced criticism from Lokhandwala and Powai residents at a public consultation meeting held on 21 May 2019.
Alignment
The fully elevated line is 14.477 km long with 13 stations. The line begins at Swami Samarth Nagar station in Lokhandwala Complex and passes over Line 2A's viaduct near Infinity Mall junction on Link Road at a height of 20 metres. Line 6 continues east passing over railway lines at Jogeshwari, Line 7's viaduct at the Western Express Highway, and the JVLR. It continues along the periphery of Powai Lake and terminates at Vikhroli station on the Eastern Express Highway. Line 6 has a total of 50 curves along the route, including many sharp turns. The detailed project report noted that the ground along the alignment was "undulated" resulting in a gradient that was very steep.
Line 6 is the highest metro line in India. The average height of the pillars supporting the line is 16 metres (fourth highest in India), but passes at heights over 30 metres in some sections. The tallest pillar on Line 6 is located at Gandhi Nagar in Kanjurmarg. It is 38 metres in height and is the tallest metro pillar in India. The tallest station on the line is Kanjurmarg at height of 30 metres above ground level.