Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis speaks after announcing Rs 30 lakh crore investment commitments. File photo.
The Ministry of Railways has given its approval for an additional 10 new local train services on the Nerul–Uran and Belapur–Uran corridors, along with stoppages at the newly constructed Targhar and Gavhan stations. The Railway Board gave its nod to Central Railway on December 3.
The new services include four trips on the Nerul–Uran–Nerul route and six trips on the Belapur–Uran–Belapur route. At present, local trains on these stretches run at intervals of about one hour during peak hours and around 90 minutes during non-peak hours, causing inconvenience to daily commuters.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the announcement on social media platform X, saying, “A special gift for Mumbaikars! Thank you, Hon. PM Narendra Modi Ji, and Hon. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ji, for initiating additional local train services and approving stoppages at Targhar and Gavhan. This will significantly benefit commuters and make daily travel much easier.”
With the addition, the gap between trains will be reduced by an average of 15 minutes, helping ease congestion.
At present, there are 40 train services on the Uran route throughout the day, which will increase to 50 services daily after implementation.
The Targhar and Gavhan stations, constructed by CIDCO, will receive suburban train halts for the first time.
Targhar station, located close to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, is expected to benefit airport passengers and employees, offering a faster and more convenient commuting option, while the Gavhan station will enhance access for Uran residents, improving connectivity and reducing dependence on road transport.
The Central Railway authorities have stated that construction on both stations is almost complete, however, they have not announced the dates of commencement of services yet.
When asked about the commencement of these additional services, Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Central Railway said, “There is no clarity on the dates of commencement of services yet.”
The Railway Board in its order has instructed Central Railway to give wide publicity about the new services and ensure all necessary arrangements for smooth rollout. The approval was issued by Sanjay R Neelam, Director (Coaching), Railway Board.
Officials said that with the new services, commuters on the Nerul–Uran and Belapur–Uran corridors will benefit from more frequent trains, reduced waiting times, and improved access to new stations, supporting the growing population and infrastructure development in Navi Mumbai and the surrounding region.