Mumbai To Get Rs 15,000 Crore Rail Corridors To Segregate Suburban And Long-Distance Trains

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has drawn up an ambitious proposal worth Rs 15,000 crore to construct new rail corridors aimed at easing congestion on the city’s overburdened suburban rail network, reported Hindustan Times.

The plan focuses on separating local train services from long-distance passenger and freight traffic along the Central Railway routes.

According to officials, the project includes new corridors along the Kalyan–Kasara and Kalyan–Karjat lines, in addition to a 60 km long dedicated suburban corridor between Panvel and Vasai.

The proposal has already been submitted to the Maharashtra government for approval.

Once cleared, it will mark a significant milestone in Phase 3B of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), which seeks to modernise and expand the metropolitan region’s rail infrastructure.

“The purpose of MUTP 3B is 100 per cent segregation of the mainline and the suburban. These three corridors are what is left to be planned. At present, the Panvel to Vasai is a mainline that is used by long-distance and MEMU trains. The proposed new corridor on Panvel-Vasai will be for local trains,” a senior rail official was quoted as saying by HT.

The expansion aims to strengthen commuter services across Panvel, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar and Kalyan, all of which are witnessing rapid urbanisation and rising passenger demand.

In addition to the three new corridors, the authorities have also outlined plans for two elevated flyovers originating from Vasai, one directed towards Virar and the other towards Borivali to streamline operations further.

Clearances for the proposed projects are expected in the coming months.

The new infrastructure is expected to not only decongest existing lines but also significantly improve punctuality and reliability for millions of daily suburban commuters.

Also Read: Mumbai–Goa Highway’s 84 Km Panvel–Indapur Stretch Nearing Completion, New December Deadline Set