December 17, 2025: Suburban rail connectivity in Navi Mumbai has been significantly strengthened with Central Railway enhancing services on the Belapur–Nerul–Uran corridor, in a move timed ahead of the launch of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The upgraded timetable and infrastructure changes came into effect from December 15 and are expected to improve daily commuting while supporting future airport-related travel demand.
As part of the expansion, Central Railway has introduced five additional pairs of local trains on the Uran line. This takes the total number of daily suburban services on the route to 50, up from 40 earlier. Officials said the increase in frequency will reduce waiting times during peak hours and ease crowding for office-goers and residents who depend heavily on the local train network for daily travel.
The upgrade also marks the opening of two new suburban stations — Targhar and Gavan — for passenger services. Targhar station, located close to the Navi Mumbai International Airport project area, is expected to play a crucial role in providing rail access once airport operations commence. Gavan station, meanwhile, brings much-needed rail connectivity to nearby residential areas that earlier relied largely on road transport, benefiting students, workers and daily commuters.
Train operating hours on the Uran corridor have also been extended to cater to rising demand. Services from Uran now run from 5.35 am to 10.05 pm. Trains originating from Belapur operate between 5.45 am and 10.15 pm, while Nerul services run from 6.05 am to 9.30 pm. The longer operating window offers commuters greater flexibility for early-morning and late-evening travel.
Railway officials said the improvements are aligned with broader transport planning linked to the upcoming airport and surrounding commercial zones. Better rail connectivity is expected to reduce dependence on road travel, ease congestion on highways, and support smoother last-mile movement. As Navi Mumbai’s infrastructure ecosystem evolves, the strengthened Uran rail network is set to play a central role in shaping everyday mobility across the region.
