June 13, 2025: In the wake of a tragic incident where four passengers lost their lives after falling from an overcrowded suburban train earlier this week, Indian Railways is likely to fast-track ongoing capacity expansion projects on the Mumbai suburban rail network. A top government official confirmed the move, stating that the goal is to enhance safety and significantly increase the number of daily train services from the current 3,200–3,400 to around 4,500.
“There are capacity expansion projects worth Rs 16,000 crore underway in the Mumbai local network. These will start getting commissioned by the end of the year. Once all the sanctioned works are completed, we will have the added capacity to operate up to 4,500 trains daily,” the official said, underlining the urgency created by the recent fatalities.
While the Rs 16,000 crore expansion offers long-term hope for Mumbai’s weary rail commuters, its impact will only be felt with timely completion and robust accountability. As the city mourns another avoidable loss of life, the onus lies on Indian Railways to deliver a faster, safer, and more humane suburban transport system.
Source: Business Standard
