Kalyan man, 24, builds online tracker for all 21 Mumbai-region metro corridors

It is not easy for an ordinary commuter to find out when a metro line will open, what it costs, how many pillars have been erected and how much work remains. Shashank Ballaya, 24, of Kalyan has built a website for this purpose. It brings together, in one place, information on all 21 metro corridors proposed for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including construction progress, project cost, tenders and delays.

Shashank is a computer engineering graduate. He works in the family business and also builds websites and apps. His interest in the metro began with his first metro ride, in Bengaluru in 2014. It grew after the announcement of Metro Line 5 and Line 12, which connect his city to the rest of the region.

He used to post updates on X. When he could not find a single platform that showed construction progress across the whole region, he decided to build one himself. A weekend project to follow the progress of Line 12 grew into the Mumbai Metro Tracker. On the website, commuters can see which corridor is operational, which is under construction and which is still on paper.

The Mumbai Metro Tracker (mumbaimetrotracker.com) lists 21 corridors. Only five are operational, which means 16 have yet to start running. The website does not just show a map; it also tries to keep track of the money and contracts behind the projects. For instance, the revised cost of Metro Line 5, which links Thane and Kalyan, is put at about Rs 18,130 crore. It also carries details of financing arrangements, contract awards and construction updates.

The website does not claim to give official inauguration dates, nor does it replace information from project officials. In his disclaimer, Shashank has written: "Mumbai Metro Tracker is an independent public-interest site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by MMRDA, MMRCL, CIDCO, MahaMetro or the state government. The map is based on OpenStreetMap data. Please verify with official sources before making any decision."

The tracker also covers projects beyond the city limits, heading towards Virar, Badlapur, Kalyan, Taloja and Navi Mumbai. These include Metro Line 14, proposed between Kanjurmarg and Badlapur, Line 13 towards Virar, and Line 8, planned to connect Mumbai's international airport with the Navi Mumbai International Airport.

Shashank said, "For anyone who wants to know why a corridor is taking so long, this platform is a starting point for understanding the different stages of work. Some of these projects will take several more years to carry passengers, but their inclusion gives an idea of how big a network is being envisaged for the region."

According to the website, the status of the 21 corridors is as follows: 5 are operational, with passenger service running fully. 8 are under construction, where work is under way but passenger service has not begun. 5 are approved, meaning they have received the go-ahead but construction has not started. 2 are proposed and await further approvals and implementation. 1 is still only at the planning stage.

Shashank is also testing another app, called Commute Guardian. It is a GPS-based offline app that alerts Mumbai local train commuters before their destination arrives. Announcements are made in Marathi, Hindi and English.