The 32-km elevated second phase of the metro rail project which will connect Charkop and Mankhurd via Bandra will have 27 stations.

After the state government okayed the project, the Centre accorded its in-principal approval to the line in February 2007. Two years ago, the cost of the project was pegged at Rs5,616 crore. Now, it has been estimated that the project would cost almost Rs8,400 crore.

The deadline for the project is 2012. The Ambani brothers, it has been learnt, will bid for the project.