Kurla’s Elevated Harbour Line Station Takes Shape, Key To Mumbai Suburban Railway's 5th And 6th Line Expansion

The 5th and 6th line corridor of Mumbai’s suburban railway network has taken a significant step forward, with construction of the new elevated Harbour Line station at Kurla moving into high gear.

Over the weekend, the Central Railway undertook a 14.5 hour mega block to divert rail lines between Kurla and Tilak Nagar, clearing the way for this crucial project.

“As part of the plan, the railway shifted the track westwards to make way for the new elevated station, which is part of the proposed 5th and 6th line corridor. The new elevated station is designed to handle both regular Harbour Line traffic and services that will originate or terminate at Kurla,” a senior official was quoted as saying in The Free Press Journal report.

Kurla has long been a vital interchange hub in Mumbai’s railway map. The station links the Harbour Line, which runs from CSMT to Navi Mumbai and Panvel, with the Central Line, serving the city’s eastern suburbs and beyond.

It also connects to long-distance routes, making it one of the busiest junctions in the metropolis. The Harbour Line itself carries lakhs of daily commuters, offering direct access between South Mumbai and the satellite cities of Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad.

The new alignment is expected to free up capacity for the 5th and 6th lines, critical to separating suburban services from long-distance trains.

The upcoming station will feature three platforms, with dedicated lines for CSMT-bound trains, Navi Mumbai services, and a central platform with reversal facilities at the Panvel end.

This arrangement will enable shuttle services between Kurla and Panvel, while also streamlining operations on through routes.

The elevated corridor itself will begin after Chunabhatti station and rejoin the ground-level tracks near Tilak Nagar, crossing the Santacruz–Chembur Link Road (SCLR). The diversion runs over specially treated marshland.

Officials emphasised that the elevated structure will reduce delays caused by monsoon flooding, a chronic issue on the Harbour Line.

“This elevated station will not only help streamline traffic but also significantly improve the punctuality of Harbour Line services. Once the station is operational, all Harbour Line operations currently functioning at ground level in Kurla will shift to the elevated structure,” a railway source was quoted as saying in the report.

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