August 14, 2025: The Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) has decided to postpone the redevelopment of Thane and Kalyan railway stations until at least half of the ongoing work at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is completed — a target likely to be reached only next year. Currently, progress on the Rs 2,450-crore CSMT modernisation project stands at around 15%.
Officials explained that as CSMT redevelopment accelerates, significant work blocks will be required at the busy terminus, resulting in the cancellation or relocation of several long-distance train services. Initiating parallel redevelopment at Thane and Kalyan, both key stations on the Central Railway’s main line, would demand additional blocks, affecting suburban, mail, and express train operations.
“If too many timetable changes are introduced simultaneously, it could spark widespread discontent among passengers,” a railway source noted. A senior Central Railway official said the approach is aimed at balancing progress with operational stability: “We anticipate reaching 50–60% completion on CSMT before commencing redevelopment at Thane and Kalyan. That will give us the breathing space and operational confidence to handle works at the other two stations.”
The RLDA, in coordination with Thane Smart City Limited, is planning a multi-modal transit hub at Thane to integrate suburban rail, long-distance trains, buses, and other public transport modes. The redevelopment of Kalyan is also expected to follow a similar modern, multi-functional design.
The phased execution strategy reflects an effort to manage passenger disruption while pushing forward with infrastructure upgrades. With CSMT serving as a central hub for Mumbai’s rail network, railway planners are cautious about overloading the system with simultaneous redevelopment works on critical corridors. Once CSMT’s progress reaches the halfway mark, the focus will shift towards transforming Thane and Kalyan into world-class transport hubs.
Source: Times Of India
