The Mumbai division of Central Railway has undertaken a broad upgrade of passenger facilities across major stations, commissioning new escalators, lifts, lighting, and display systems in January 2026.
Four escalators have been added, two each at Kasara and Badlapur, while lifts have been made operational at Vangani and Badlapur. Railway officials said the additions are aimed at improving accessibility for senior citizens, pregnant women, Divyangjan, and commuters carrying luggage, particularly during inter-platform transfers.
As part of a ventilation improvement drive, 142 new Brushless Direct Current fans were installed and 289 older BLDC units replaced. These fans consume 50 to 70 per cent less power than conventional induction motor models and generate lower noise. Eight high-volume low-speed fans have also been installed on platforms at Dadar station to enhance airflow in high-footfall areas.
Lighting infrastructure has been strengthened with the installation of 362 new LED fixtures and the replacement of 1,635 existing units. According to officials, the updated systems provide improved brightness, longer service life, and reduced maintenance requirements.
Passenger information systems have also been modernised. At Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, four new Mail and Express train display boards, including indoor and outdoor units, have been installed. Additionally, 56 new suburban train indicators have been commissioned at stations such as Nerul, Panvel, Dockyard Road, Sewri and Reay Road, with six indicators placed on the Nerul foot overbridge.
In parallel, work is progressing on the 2.639-km Wavarle Tunnel on the Panvel–Karjat corridor under the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation as part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase 3. The tunnel, built through the Sahyadri hills over 16 months with more than 24 lakh man-hours, forms part of a 29.6-km double-line project intended to reduce congestion, cut travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai-Raigad, and improve connectivity near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Source: Mid-day
