Western Railway General Manager Ramashray Pandey has said that the Mumbai–Delhi rail corridor upgrade for 160 kmph operations is nearing completion, with passengers expected to benefit from a 12-hour journey between the two cities by early 2027. Speaking in an interview, Pandey also outlined plans to expand railway terminals in Mumbai, enhance suburban rail capacity, redevelop railway housing, and strengthen measures to prevent encroachments on railway land.
Providing an update on the Mumbai–Delhi speed enhancement project, Pandey said all major civil engineering work on the Nagda–Mumbai Central and Vadodara–Ahmedabad sections has been completed. The remaining work includes a few weldable CMS crossings and three bridge rehabilitation projects on the Virar–Surat section, which are expected to be finished by December 2026. He added that Kavach signalling has already been commissioned on the Vadodara–Ahmedabad stretch, while installation on the Nagda–Mumbai Central section is between 80% and 99% complete. Following the completion of infrastructure work, the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) will conduct the Confirmatory Oscillograph Car Run (COCR) before approving 160 kmph operations. If everything proceeds as scheduled, a 12-hour Mumbai–Delhi journey is expected in early 2027.
Pandey also revealed that Western Railway has drawn up a long-term strategy to nearly double Mumbai’s mail and express train handling capacity over the next four to five years. Planned upgrades include platform extensions at Mumbai Central, a new platform line at Dadar, additional train capacity at Bandra Terminus, phased development of Jogeshwari Terminus with five new platforms and two pit lines, and two more platforms at Vasai Road. A proposed Vande Bharat maintenance yard at Jogeshwari is currently in the planning stage.
On suburban services, Pandey said introducing AC local trains between Dahanu Road and Virar is not feasible at present as it would require replacing existing non-AC services and increase waiting time for commuters. He also confirmed that the fifth and sixth railway lines under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) are targeted for completion by March 2029, while the proposed underground suburban corridor will move forward after a Final Location Survey and feasibility assessment. Addressing railway land management, he said Western Railway will continue securing cleared land with fencing and utilise it for infrastructure projects to prevent future encroachments.
Source: The Free Press Journal
