Mumbai Local Train Services Update: Central Railway Plans New Corridor To Parel

In a major step to improve Mumbai's suburban railway network, the Central Railway (CR) has started a field survey for the proposed 7th and 8th railway lines between Parel and Kalyan, according to a mid-day report. The lines are part of a bigger plan to develop a future-ready Parel Mega Terminus and to separate long-distance trains from suburban ones.

According to the available information, the CR construction team began the survey on July 17, 2024. The new rail corridor will be around 46 kilometres long, and the project is expected to be finished by October 2025.

A CR spokesperson confirmed the news, saying, "These new lines are part of long-term planning. There will be a dedicated route between Kalyan and the upcoming Parel Mega Terminus. This will help in managing outstation trains separately from suburban trains."

Work is already going on beyond Kalyan to add more lines, especially in the Ghat sections. This will increase the capacity of the railway network.

At the same time, CR is facing delays in completing the 5th and 6th lines between Kurla and CSMT. This 34-kilometre project is divided into two parts. The first part is the 10.1-kilometre section between Kurla and Parel, where the new terminus is planned. The second part goes from Parel to CSMT.

The spokesperson added in the same report, "We are working on the Kurla-Parel stretch wherever land is available. The Sion Road overbridge is being rebuilt. At Kurla, Harbour line platforms will be raised, and the existing tracks will become part of the 5th and 6th lines."

Land acquisition is in progress in areas like Swadeshi Mill and Dharavi. This involves state-owned land, private property, and land owned by the BMC. The project was first proposed under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 2B in 2009-10 and approved in 2014 with a budget of Rs 891 crore.

The project, once completed, is expected to greatly improve rail traffic management in the Mumbai region.