June 21, 2025: In a major infrastructure initiative, the Ministry of Railways has allocated Rs 81,000 crore to Maharashtra for the current financial year, with Rs 16,000 crore earmarked specifically for ongoing projects in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the number of suburban train services in Mumbai will double over the next three years, as part of a wide-ranging overhaul of the city’s railway network.
In an interview with Lokmat, Vaishnaw shared that efforts are already underway to install automatic doors on all local trains, bringing Mumbai’s suburban experience closer to that of a modern metro. The first such train is expected to begin trials by November. Additionally, local train interiors are being redesigned to resemble sleek, air-conditioned metro coaches.
Although a proposal to fully convert all local trains to air-conditioned coaches faced political resistance, the minister confirmed that more AC locals will be progressively introduced to enhance commuter comfort. At present, Mumbai runs approximately 3,200 suburban train services daily, serving over 7.5 million passengers. With new signalling and control technologies, the ministry aims to reduce the gap between trains from three minutes to two and a half—making Mumbai the first Indian city to implement this system.
Around 300 additional services will be introduced gradually as 300 km of new tracks are laid. Safety upgrades are also on the horizon, including the integration of the Kavach system with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology.
Vaishnaw also revealed a record Rs 23,778 crore allocation for Maharashtra in the Union Budget 2025–26—20 times higher than allocations during the UPA era. Further announcements include 350 new AC locals, a new long-distance terminal at Panvel–Kalamboli, and 342 special trains for Ganesh Chaturthi travellers.
“These developments mark a transformative era in Mumbai’s suburban rail system,” the minister concluded.
Source: Lokmat Times
