Mumbai Local Train Services News: Ashwini Vaishnaw Unveils Plan For 301.5 Km Expansion And New AC Trains

With Maharashtra's assembly elections approaching, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made a significant announcement on Friday regarding the expansion of Mumbai's suburban railway network. Over the next five years, the network will see an additional 301.5 kilometres of rail lines, with a total investment of Rs 16,240 crore.

Vaishnaw outlined that this development will facilitate the introduction of 300 new local train services. During his visit, he travelled from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Bhandup on a local train and reviewed the ongoing redevelopment at CSMT. He sought updates on the relocation of existing infrastructure and future design plans for the station.

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Senior railway officials detailed that work is underway in phases on several key projects, all set to be completed by December 2025. These projects include the 10 kilometres extension of the fifth and sixth lines between Parel and Kurla, a new suburban corridor from Panvel to Karjat, the third and fourth lines on the Kalyan-Badlapur corridor, and a third line from Kalyan to Kasara. The Goregaon-Borivali corridor is expected to be completed by March 2025.

However, the feasibility of these deadlines has been questioned by railway passenger associations. Subhash Gupta, president of Yatri Rail Parishad, expressed concerns about the ambitious timelines, citing delays in demolishing the Sion railway overbridge and the slow progress of Parel station's revamp.

Railway officials acknowledged that the construction of additional lines from Parel to Kurla would indeed take considerable time. The Goregaon-Borivali section and the Borivali to Virar lines are projected to be completed by 2027, with the Virar-Dahanu corridor expected by December 2026. The Panvel-Karjat corridor, covering 30 kilometres and connecting Navi Mumbai with Raigad districts, is on track for a December 2025 completion.

Efforts are also being made to separate suburban and non-suburban trains beyond Kalyan, with a fourth line for the Kalyan-Asangaon corridor currently under land acquisition. The Kalyan-Badlapur corridor is seeing work on additional lines, while the Airoli-Kalwa elevated line is stalled due to delays in rehabilitating over 750 tenements.

In addition to infrastructure updates, Vaishnaw addressed the stalled plan to introduce air-conditioned (AC) local trains. He noted that the plan has faced political resistance, particularly from NCP leader Sharad Pawar, and urged Mumbaikars to form a consensus and advocate for the AC services. Vaishnaw suggested that a public opinion poll could pave the way for the implementation of AC local trains, emphasising that the initiative is ready to proceed once there is clear support from the public.