Mumbai suburban rail network set for major overhaul with Rs 18,365-crore investment

Mumbai: The suburban rail transportation of Mumbai and the larger Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR) — which is the lifeline of India’s financial capital — is set to undergo a massive change with projects to the tune of Rs 18,364.94 crore being undertaken.

The Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR), both headquartered in Mumbai, are undertaking multiple projects to beef up the network.

The CR and WR network is spread across Mumbai and the neighbouring districts of Thane, Raigad and Palghar.

The WR runs from Churchgate to Dahanu Road, popularly called the Western Line.

The CR is spread over Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to Karjat –Khopoli and Kasara on the Main Line, CSMT to Panvel/ Bandra on the Harbour line, Thane to Panvel on the Trans Harbour Line and Nerul / Belapur to Uran on the Port line on Central Railway and Churchgate to Dahanu, Goregaon to CSMT on the WR.

“The demand for train services on different routes is ever increasing and to provide better services for ease of travel, in Mumbai and suburbs, various Railway projects covering a total stretch of 400.53 kms at a total estimated cost of Rs.18,364.94 crores have been planned are in different stages of execution including construction / extension of rail routes and upgradation of existing services,” the CR-WR said on Thursday.

The CSMT-Kurla 5th & 6th line project by Central Railway, under MUTP-II covering a length of 17.5 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.891 crores is under execution in two phases.

The Panvel-Karjat Suburban Corridor project under MUTP-III covering a length of 29.6 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.2,782 crores is under execution. This project is being executed by Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd.

The Kalyan - Asangaon 4th line project by CR, under MUTP-III-A covering a length of 32 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.1,759 crores is under execution.

The Kalyan - Badlapur 3rd & 4th line project under MUTP-III-A covering a length of 14.05 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.1,510 crores is under execution.

The Kalyan – Kasara 3rd line project by Central Railway, covering a length of 67 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.792 crores is under execution in two phases.

The Badlapur - Karjat 3rd & 4th line is a project by Central Railway, covering a length of 64 (32 x2) kilometres route length with 8 major bridges, 106 minor bridges, I Road Under Bridge and 6 stations enroute.

The Asangaon – Kasara 4th line project by Central Railway, covering a length of 35 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.737.85 crores is under process.

The Nilje-Kopar double chord line is a project by Central Railway, covering a length of 5 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.338 crores.

The Mumbai Central-Borivali 6th line project under MUTP-II covering a length of 30 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.919 crores is under execution in two phases.

The extension of Harbour line from Goregaon to Borivali is a project under MUTP-III-A, covering a length of 7.08 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.898 crores.

The WR’s Borivali-Virar 5th & 6th line is a project under MUTP-III-A, covering a length of 26 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.2,184.09 crores.

The Virar-Dahanu 3rd & 4th line is a project under MUTP-III, covering a length of 64 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.3,578 crores.

The Naigaon-Juchandra double chord line is a project by WR, covering a length of 6 track kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs.176 crores.