News Brief
Navi Mumbai Airport Spurs Rail Expansion With Fast Corridor, New Stations And Panvel Upgrade
Several projects have been revived or accelerated In Navi Mumbai
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), set for inauguration on 8 October, is driving a major expansion of suburban rail infrastructure at the edge of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
According to a Hindustan Times report, several projects have been revived or accelerated, including a fast line on the CSMT–Panvel corridor, the upgrade of Panvel station, and the development of Targhar station, located barely one km from the new airport.
The long-delayed CSMT–Panvel fast line, first proposed in 2009–10 and later revised in 2016, is back on the agenda under Phase 4 of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP).
Officials said a feasibility study will soon begin to reassess the 47 km corridor, originally expected to carry 39,000 peak-hour passengers by 2031 with trains every four to five minutes.
The line’s alignment may be tweaked to integrate with CSMT’s Rs 2,500-crore makeover and avoid new viaducts like the Atal Setu and the Sewri-Worli connector.
Meanwhile, station upgrades are gathering pace. Targhar station, on the Uran-Nerul/Belapur line, is being transformed into a hub with terrace parking, shuttle services, retail spaces and three platforms.
At present, trains do not halt there, but it is expected to be a key access point for NMIA.
Panvel station is also undergoing a large-scale modernisation, including the Panvel–Karjat suburban line, freight facilities, and an expansion from six to 12 platforms.
