Big Push For Mumbai Suburban Rail: 12 Projects Worth Rs 16,200 Crore Sanctioned To Decongest And Modernise Network

In a significant move to address the chronic congestion on Mumbai’s local train network, the Union government has approved 12 suburban railway projects worth over Rs 16,241 crore, Indian Express reported.

The projects aim to ease pressure on overcrowded routes, increase the number of train services, and improve basic safety and reliability for the city’s daily commuters.

Responding to a question from Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government has cleared 12 infrastructure projects worth Rs 16,241 crore aimed at strengthening suburban rail services in Mumbai.

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Among the major projects are the Virar-Dahanu 3rd and 4th line (Rs 3,587 crore), Panvel-Karjat suburban corridor (Rs 2,782 crore), and the Borivali-Virar 5th & 6th line (Rs 2,184 crore).

Other critical upgrades include additional lines between CSMT-Kurla, Mumbai Central-Borivali, and several expansions in the Kalyan section, vital for reducing delays and allowing more trains to run during peak hours.

Vaishnaw noted that infrastructure development is the cornerstone for increasing suburban services and said the aim is to meet the ever-growing demand from Mumbai’s nearly 80 lakh daily train commuters.

Alongside the new rail lines, Indian Railways plans to introduce 238 new air-conditioned local train rakes in Mumbai.

These trains will come equipped with automatic doors designed to improve passenger safety and reduce accidents caused by overcrowding and unsafe boarding practices.

These doors remain closed during motion and open only at stations, significantly cutting down on accidents caused by passengers falling from moving trains.

Together, the projects are expected to transform Mumbai’s rail lifeline over the coming years.

Also Read: Mumbai Suburban Rail To Get New Non-AC Trains With Auto-Closing Doors By 2026 After Fatal Overcrowding Incident