July 29, 2025: Mumbai’s suburban railway network is on track for a comprehensive upgrade, as the Ministry of Railways has approved projects worth Rs 52,724 crore under various phases of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). These projects aim to improve capacity, safety, and connectivity for millions of daily commuters in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The funding allocation includes Rs 8,087 crore under MUTP-II, Rs 10,947 crore under MUTP-III, and Rs 33,690 crore for MUTP-IIIA.
Under MUTP-III, major initiatives include the development of the Panvel–Karjat railway line, quadrupling of the Virar–Dahanu corridor, and construction of the Airoli–Kalwa elevated line. The plan also covers new rolling stock acquisition and enhanced trespass control measures. These efforts run parallel to existing works on the fifth and sixth lines between Borivali and Virar, and the third and fourth lines between Kalyan and Badlapur.
All projects are being executed by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd (MRVC), a 50:50 joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Maharashtra Government.
Multiple tracking enhancements have been approved, notably:
Churchgate–Virar: Four tracks between Churchgate–Mumbai Central, eight tracks between Mumbai Central–Borivali, and six between Borivali–Virar.
CSMT–Panvel: Fifth and sixth lines between CSMT–Kurla, with work in progress on Kurla–Parel. Two additional tracks are already in use on the CSMT–Kurla–Vasai–Panvel route.
To address increasing demand, 238 new 12-car local trains have been sanctioned under MUTP-III and IIIA, involving a total investment of Rs 19,293 crore.
The Ministry is also collaborating with MMRDA for improved intermodal integration. Stations like Andheri East and Ghatkopar are now connected with adjacent metro lines, facilitating smoother passenger transfers. These projects are poised to significantly enhance the efficiency and reliability of Mumbai’s suburban transit system.
Source: Construction World
