Mumbai Suburban Railway: Good news for Mumbaikars! Indian Railways (IR) has undertaken multiple projects worth over Rs 16,200 crore to improve the infrastructure in Mumbai suburban network. Once completed, these rail projects will further enhance the connectivity and seamless operation of train services in the region. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the government has approved 12 infrastructure projects worth Rs 16,241 crore to further enhance suburban railway services in Maharashtra's capital. The response came following a query raised by Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil. Mumbai Suburban Rail Network, Mumbai Local Train Services Earlier this year, Vaishnaw emphasized that infrastructure development is the cornerstone for increasing suburban services. He stated that Indian Railways is committed to modernise, improve commuter experience, and enhanced regional connectivity, with a special focus on the Mumbai Suburban Railway Network. These new projects also aims to decongest existing lines, improve service frequency, and cater to the ever-growing demand of Mumbai’s suburban commuters. Mumbai Suburban Railway Projects Serial Number Name of Project Length (km) Cost (in Rs Cr.) 1 CSMT-Kurla 5th & 6th Line (MUTP-II) 17.5 891 2 Mumbai Central-Borivali 6th Line (MUTP-II) 30 919 3 Extension of Harbour Line from Goregaon-Borivali (MUTP-IIIA) 7 826 4 Borivali-Virar 5th & 6th Line (MUTP-IIIA) 26 2,184 5 Virar-Dahanu Road 3rd & 4th Line (MUTP-III) 64 3,587 6 Panvel-Karjat Suburban Corridor (MUTP-III) 29.6 2,782 7 Airoli-Kalwa (elevated) Suburban Corridor link (MUTP-III) 3.3 476 8 Kalyan-Asangaon 4th Line (MUTP-IIIA) 32 1,759 9 Kalyan-Badlapur 3rd & 4th line (MUTP-IIIA) 14 1,510 10 Kalyan-Kasara 3rd Line 67 793 11 Naigaon-Juichandra double chord Line 6 176 12 Nilaje-Kopar double chord Line 5 338 New AC Local Train services in Mumbai Apart from these, the national transporter is also set to introduce 238 new Air-Conditioned suburban rakes. These new AC local trains will be equipped with automatic doors and will prevent passengers from hanging on footboards or boarding moving trains which is a major cause of fatal accidents. "The introduction of AC local trains equipped with automatic doors in Mumbai has been a welcome initiative to enhance commuters’ safety and reduce incidents related to overcrowding. The automatic doors prevent passengers from hanging on footboards or boarding moving trains which is a major cause of fatal accidents. These doors remain closed while the train is in motion and open only at stations when the train is stationary, thereby significantly reducing the risk of falls," the Railway Minister said.
