Navi Mumbai Airport Spurs Rail Expansion With Fast Corridor, New Stations And Panvel Upgrade

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.

“We are currently finalising consulting firms and organisations who will conduct a feasibility study for new rail corridors across MMR, around Navi Mumbai International Airport, and the proposed Third Mumbai,” a railway official was quoted as sayin.

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.

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