Mumbai's Yellow Line 2B of the metro is set to begin trial runs on April 16, 2025, marking a significant advancement in the city's public transportation and promising to ease east-west connectivity.

A 5.5-km stretch between Diamond Garden in Chembur and Mandale in Mankhurd has been successfully energized, paving the way for the trial runs. This milestone coincides with the 172nd anniversary of India’s first train journey that started from Mumbai. Once fully operational by December 2026, the 18.2 km Yellow Line 2B is expected to reduce travel time between Chembur and Andheri to just 20 minutes, alleviating the commute for many Mumbaikars. The first phase will include five key stations: Diamond Garden, Shivaji Chowk, BSNL Metro, Mankhurd, and Mandale.

The project faced delays due to the rebidding of the systems tender, pushing the full operation beyond the originally slated December 2025 deadline. However, progress has been steadily maintained. Unlike the more recent metro lines primarily serving the western suburbs, Line 2B is the only new corridor servicing the eastern side, enhancing connectivity for a different section of the city's populace. The commencement of trial runs represents a substantial step forward, instilling hope that the line will soon ease congestion and provide a faster commute across Mumbai.