Mumbai Local Train Services: Work Begins On New Rail Corridor Between Kandivli And Borivli

The essential land acquisition for a new rail corridor between Kandivli and Borivli has been completed, marking a major step forward in the development of the Western Railway's suburban network, according to a Midday report. The acquisition, which included 424.5 square metres of private land in Borivli, followed the lifting of a court stay. Work has now begun alongside the operational tracks, with the new corridor expected to be completed by March 2025.

The new rail corridor will significantly ease congestion on the busy Western Railway suburban line, which has long needed a dedicated track from Bandra Terminus to Borivli. This is part of a larger effort to expand rail capacity, with the fifth and sixth lines being constructed between Bandra Terminus and Borivli.

"Alternative allotment to the 12 affected parties has been completed, and dismantling of the structures obstructing the corridor is in progress," a senior railway official explained in the same report.

The project is progressing rapidly, with several key developments already completed. The elevated booking office on the east side of Kandivli station has been finished and is set to open for the public. Additionally, work is underway to strengthen and replace old steel girders on major bridge No. 61, which will be upgraded with pre-stressed concrete slabs. Night blocks during shutdown periods are being used for earthwork and bridge construction in the Kandivli yard.

The Western Railway is building the fifth and sixth lines to segregate the mail/express train corridor from the Mumbai suburban line. The fifth line is already operational, and the sixth line is being constructed in phases. The 9 kilometres stretch from Bandra Terminus to Goregaon was completed in November 2023, and the 4.5 km stretch from Goregaon to Kandivli was completed in October 2024. The final 3.21 kilometres stretch from Kandivli to Borivli is expected to be completed by March 2025.

How It Will Help Commuters

The new corridor will greatly benefit commuters by providing space for trains to run from Jogeshwari Terminus, freeing up the suburban fast lines up to Bandra. Once the corridor is complete, mail and express trains will exclusively use the new track, allowing for additional local services on the fast lines.

"The project will significantly ease congestion and improve punctuality on the Mumbai suburban network," said an official in the Midday report. "It will also increase the capacity of the line, providing more services for Mumbaikars."

Critical Work In Progress

Key work is ongoing to complete the stretch between Kandivli and Borivli:

Four-hour work window: Earthwork is being done in a constrained space between the operational suburban lines. This requires careful planning, as access is limited to a single entry point through the level crossing gate at night during a four-hour shutdown.

Bridge upgrade: Major Bridge No. 61 is being upgraded with pre-stressed concrete slabs.

Boundary wall demolition: The boundary wall of the Kandivli car shed is being demolished, with debris cleared by a special muck train.

The project is expected to enhance the capacity of the Mumbai suburban railway system, bringing much-needed relief to commuters and paving the way for future train services.