September 4, 2025: The Indian Railways, in collaboration with the Maharashtra government, has revised its plan for procuring 238 air-conditioned (AC) local trains to accommodate Mumbai’s growing commuter traffic. Instead of the earlier 12-car configuration, the new trains will be designed to operate as 15-car or even 18-car rakes. The proposal, presented by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to the state two weeks ago, was among several key infrastructure projects approved by the state cabinet.
The project involves the procurement of 2,856 AC coaches under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at an estimated cost of Rs 21,000 crore. “Keeping crowding in mind, we are making a provision to reconfigure 12-car AC trains into a single 18-car vestibule train,” said a railway official.
Currently, AC locals run only in 12-car formations, which cannot be expanded. The new design will allow flexible configurations based on demand, though platforms, tracks, and signalling systems will require upgrades. Sources noted the cost estimate has risen by 9% since the plan was first drafted in 2019. “We will call tenders for 2,856 AC coaches, which can be configured as 12/15/18-car trains, depending on future needs. Moreover, to promote ‘Make in India’, there will be no loan component in the plan and the cost will be shared equally by the state government and Indian Railways,” a senior official said.
The new vestibule trains will feature cushioned seats, improved air-conditioning, and mobile charging points. Once tenders are finalised, the first trains are expected to arrive in 6–7 years.
Alongside, the cabinet approved major rail expansions worth nearly Rs 20,000 crore, including Panvel-Vasai, Asangaon-Kasara, and Badlapur-Karjat corridors, as well as the Pune-Lonavala suburban line. “These projects will ease congestion on the busiest rail corridors and enhance suburban capacity,” said Vilas Wadekar, CMD of MRVC.
Source: Hindustan Times
