Mumbai’s railway infrastructure is set for a significant upgrade, with 12 key rail projects currently in progress within the Mumbai Division of the Central Railway. Among these, a new suburban corridor is expected to greatly enhance connectivity across the city, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced via social media on Friday.
One of the major highlights is the completion of Phase 1 of the new fifth and sixth lines between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kurla, slated for the end of next year. This project is designed to segregate local and mail/express train movements, thereby boosting local train services.
In a recent post on X, Minister Vaishnaw provided updates on other ongoing projects. The sixth rail line between Mumbai Central and Borivali is well underway, with the 8.9 km Khar-Goregaon stretch already completed and commissioned. Rapid progress is being made on the remaining Goregaon-Borivali section.
Additionally, the Harbour Line extension from Goregaon to Borivali is expected to alleviate congestion on the heavily trafficked Andheri-Borivali route. Land acquisition for this crucial project is currently in progress, according to Minister Vaishnaw.
The ongoing utility shifting work for the fifth and sixth rail lines between Borivali and Virar is another significant project aimed at reducing stress on the Borivali-Palghar fast corridor. Upon completion, this corridor will be exclusively used for suburban trains, further enhancing local connectivity.
In the Virar-Dahanu Road section, extensive earthwork and bridge construction are currently underway. This project is vital for enhancing rail connectivity and reducing congestion in the region.
Moreover, the Panvel-Karjat rail line project is progressing with tunneling and bridge construction. Once completed, this line will introduce a new suburban rail corridor, connecting Navi Mumbai with the Raigad district. This is part of a broader strategy to extend rail services to underdeveloped areas of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The first phase of the Airoli-Kalwa elevated link, which includes the commissioning of Dighagaon station, is complete. Land acquisition is ongoing for the remaining sections of this 3.3 km project, which will provide seamless train connections between Vashi-Belapur and Kalyan.
Further enhancements to the suburban rail network include the fourth line between Kalyan and Asangaon, which will improve local train connectivity within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Utility shifting, earthwork, and bridge construction are in progress for the third and fourth rail lines between Kalyan and Badlapur, aimed at meeting the growing demand in this busy corridor.
The Kalyan-Kasara third line is another critical project, with Phase 1 from Asangaon to Kasara expected to be completed next year. This line will help alleviate congestion on the busy Kalyan-Kasara Suburban and mail express route, improving overall train mobility.
Additionally, the Naigaon-Juichandra double chord line is under construction to eliminate engine reversals at Vasai, benefiting trains originating from Mumbai Central, Dadar, or Bandra Terminus en route to the Konkan Railway and southern India.
Finally, a 5-km-long chord line between Nilaje and Kopar is also being developed. This project is expected to cut train travel time between Vasai and Panvel by approximately 15 to 20 minutes, offering faster and more efficient service to passengers.
These projects are crucial to easing the growing pressure on Mumbai’s rail network, providing faster, more reliable service to millions of daily commuters.
