Goregaon-Kandivali Commuters Beware: Western Railway's 35-Day Mega Block To Cancel 700 Trains; Details Inside

Commuters on the Western Line should prepare for significant delays and disruptions as Western Railway (WR) embarks on a 35-day mega block for the extension of the sixth line between Goregaon and Kandivali, according to Hindustan Times (HT). The block is set to begin on the night of August 27, affecting around 650 to 700 train services over the period.

Train Cancellations And Block Timings

WR officials have indicated that the mega block will primarily occur during the weekends, with 10-hour-long blocks scheduled at night on five separate occasions. Approximately 130-140 train services are expected to be cancelled each night during these blocks. On weekdays, the blocks will be shorter, lasting up to five hours at night, resulting in fewer train cancellations.

Photo Credit: PTI

"The aim is to minimise the inconvenience to commuters by scheduling the longest blocks during weekends and late at night," said a WR official in HT. Notably, no work will be conducted during the 10-day Ganeshotsav festival to reduce the impact on passengers.

The night blocks will typically start between 10-11 pm, depending on the specific day. The five major 10-hour blocks are planned for the 5th, 12th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th days of the project, with no blocks scheduled between September 7-17, except for a single night block on September 7.

Photo Credit: PTI

Rail Infrastructure Upgrades

The mega block is part of a broader effort to enhance the railway infrastructure between Goregaon and Kandivali by adding a sixth line. Engineers have already constructed a new rail line and platform on the west side of Malad station. The next phase involves shifting tracks to the east end using a cut-and-connect method to accommodate the sixth line.

The sixth line is crucial for segregating long-distance trains from the suburban rail network, reducing congestion on the fast lines. The new line will be converted into a slow line for Virar-bound trains, while existing lines will be reallocated to different services, ensuring a more efficient operation.

Completion Timeline

This phase of the project, covering the Goregaon-Kandivali stretch, is expected to be completed by August 2024. The subsequent work on the Kandivali-Borivali corridor is anticipated to be finished by December 2024.

WR completed the first phase of this ambitious project in November 2023, with the extension of the sixth line between Santacruz and Goregaon. Extending the line further to Borivali is essential for keeping long-distance trains off the suburban fast lines, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the network.

Challenges

The project faces significant challenges, particularly with the removal of slums and other structures near the tracks in areas like Malad, Kandivali, and Borivali. Preparatory work on the Goregaon-Malad stretch has already seen the clearing of grass and weeds, ground levelling, and track laying.

Project Cost And Timeline

Cost of Mumbai Central - Borivali 5-6 Lines: Rs 918 crore
August 2024: Expected completion of work on the sixth line between Goregaon and Kandivali
December 2024: Expected completion of work on the sixth line between Kandivali and Borivali
Work Commenced: 2008