Mumbai’s train system, which transports 7.5 million passengers every day, is always changing as new ideas for increasing efficiency are developed. While some initiatives are completed quickly, others experience frequent setbacks and may lose their significance before they are finished. Then there are those that begin with big dreams but are disappointed and abandoned in the middle.
One such project was the 4.41 km Kurla-Wadala freight corridor, undertaken by the Central Railway (CR) and Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT). It was meant to connect Mumbai’s rail network with the 1,483 km Western Dedicated Freight Corridor leading to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). With an estimated cost of Rs 176 crore, the project was part of the Sagarmala master plan for Mumbai Port, released in 2016.
To stop goods trains from crossing suburban tracks at Kurla, a dedicated goods line was to be built from Raoli Junction in Wadala to Kurla. Encroachments were cleared, boundary walls, foot overbridges, staircases, booking offices, and even an extra platform at Guru Tegh Bahadur station were built, among other significant advancements. But as Mumbai Port’s freight business dropped, the project was abruptly shelved, rendering the investment unprofitable.
Another ambitious project aimed to introduce the 5th and 6th railway lines from Virar to Mumbai Central, segregating outstation and suburban train operations. While the northern segment—from Bandra Terminus to Kandivli—has been completed, work beyond Borivli and Virar is still ongoing.
Nevertheless, after substantial preparation, the southern portion—between Khar and Mumbai Central—was abandoned. Major structural changes were needed for the project, including as tearing down the fast train platforms at Mahim and clearing land close to Prabhadevi, Lower Parel, and Bandra. However, the project was put on hold in the middle because of the difficulty of signal realignments and the possible impact on current train services.
Now, the space cleared at Mahim station, once meant for new railway tracks, has turned into a mini forest—symbolising yet another unrealized dream in Mumbai’s long list of stalled infrastructure projects.
Source: Mid-Day
