Borivali To Virar Set For Major Upgrade: Western Railway Starts Land Acquisition For New Lines

In a significant move towards easing the burden on the existing railway infrastructure, Western Railway, in collaboration with the Palghar collectorate, has initiated the land acquisition process for the construction of the fifth and sixth railway lines between Borivali and Virar, according to Hindustan Times (HT). These additional lines are anticipated to significantly reduce congestion on the fast corridor, which will be dedicated solely to suburban train services.

The Palghar district administration, led by Collector Govind Bodke, has begun acquiring 122 properties in the Vasai tehsil area to facilitate the project. "We have already started the process of acquiring the required properties," said Bodke in HT. "At Vasai station, there are plans to expand the platforms to accommodate the increased traffic."

He further mentioned that the acquisition would involve residential spaces, commercial properties, and saltpan lands, some of which are already owned by the railways.

On August 7, Western Railway issued a public notice regarding the acquisition of properties in various locations including Divanman, Achole, Navghar, Manikpur, and Umela. The land identified for acquisition comprises a mix of housing societies and agricultural plots.

The project, which is part of the Western Railway corridor, has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 2,184.02 crore. Key elements of the project, such as estimates, designs, and drawings, have received approval. A comprehensive drone survey has been completed, and the alignment for the new lines has been finalised.

Additionally, the plans for all major and minor bridges required for the project have been sanctioned. The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is responsible for executing this project, with Western Railway targeting a completion date of December 2027.

Work on related infrastructure is already underway. Contracts for constructing essential service buildings and railway quarters have been awarded. Ongoing projects include the construction of the relay room at Mira Road, the signal office, the tool room, the RRI building and the Railway Protection Force Barrack at Dahisar, the station building at Naigaon, and the railway quarters at Vasai Road and Bhayander.

According to an MRVC spokesperson, the tender for relocating structures was awarded on October 16 last year, with work currently in progress. Construction and modifications of Foot Over Bridges and platforms have commenced, following the awarding of contracts in early February.

Furthermore, tenders for constructing major and minor bridges, road overbridges (ROBs), and associated earthworks for the proposed embankment were invited on 6th June, marking a significant step forward in the project's development.