July 26, 2025: The Central Government has sanctioned a substantial investment of Rs 52,724 cr to upgrade and expand Mumbai’s suburban railway network under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phases II, III, and IIIA. The Minister of Railways confirmed this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on July 25.
Breaking down the funding, Rs 8,087 crore has been allocated for MUTP-II, Rs 10,947 crore for MUTP-III, and Rs 33,690 crore for MUTP-IIIA — the largest component. These initiatives are being implemented by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd (MRVC), a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Government of Maharashtra, with costs equally shared.
Key developments under MUTP-III include the new Panvel–Karjat suburban corridor, quadrupling of the Virar–Dahanu rail line, and construction of an elevated corridor between Airoli and Kalwa. Safety and efficiency enhancements such as trespass control systems and the acquisition of new rolling stock are also in progress.
A major focus is the heavily congested Churchgate–Virar corridor, where plans are underway to introduce four tracks between Churchgate and Mumbai Central, eight tracks up to Borivali, and six tracks to Virar. Additionally, work has begun on the 5th and 6th lines between Kurla and Parel on the CSMT–Panvel route.
To tackle overcrowding, the government has approved 238 new 12-car local trains under MUTP-III and IIIA, at a cost of RS 19,293 crore. The Ministry is also integrating suburban rail stations with metro services. Stations like Andheri East and Ghatkopar are already linked, with further collaborations planned with the MMRDA.
Furthermore, 132 railway stations in Maharashtra — including Parel, Chinchpokli, Vadala Road, Matunga, and Shahad — are being modernised under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Source: The Free Press Journal
