Promised in 2015, pushed to 2026: Why Mumbai’s CSMT–Kurla 5th & 6th Line Project remains stalled and why it matters

Phase 1: Kurla to Parel

Phase 1 covers the 10.1-kilometre segment from Kurla to Parel. Work is underway but beset by significant delays, mainly due to land acquisition problems involving slum rehabilitation, government, and private parcels.

The progress of civil works for Phase 1 stands at around 28 per cent as of September 2025, with the official deadline for completion currently fixed at December 2025. But chances of extending the deadline to late 2026 are likely.

“There might be a delay in meeting the deadline, because there are still some issues with the land acquisition between Kurla and Parel. That is the biggest issue for the project,” said a Central Railway Public Relations Officer (PRO). Rehabilitation of more than 200 affected families in Vidyavihar and Sion has not fully progressed. Out of 212 families identified, around 140 have been shifted so far, with the rest pending.

Phase 2: Parel to CSMT

The second phase, covering the Parel–CSMT stretch of roughly 7.4 kilometres, remains on paper, with no construction or concrete land acquisition work started. Problems here are magnified by the dense development and layered property titles in South Mumbai. While officials are exploring technical options, including elevated or underground alignments, land handover, relocation, and urban complexity have kept Phase 2 dormant. “What is pending is only land acquisition and finalising technical studies. The work will not be scrapped,” said a railway officer.

How will the 5th and 6th lines benefit Mumbai?

Once commissioned, the new tracks will be reserved solely for express, mail, and goods trains, giving these services dedicated paths and freeing up the 3rd and 4th lines exclusively for suburban locals. Central Railway handles around 1,800 suburban services daily, carrying close to 35 lakh passengers on the CSMT–Kurla–Kalyan corridor.

“Once completed, the 5th and 6th lines will be exclusively allotted for express, mail, and goods trains. The 3rd and 4th lines will be completely dedicated to suburban trains. This will reduce possible delays for suburban, express, and mail trains. The matter of increasing the frequency of suburban trains can’t be confirmed now, but the punctuality of the trains will be assured,” said a railway officer. Railway authorities have pointed out that track alignments and signaling requirements are designed for long-distance train operations, not suburban frequencies.