Mumbai Rail Revolution: Connecting Airport, Port & Beyond

As part of its larger strategy to develop the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the Maharashtra government is advancing a major expansion of suburban rail infrastructure across Central and Western Railways.

Key initiatives include integrating the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) with the suburban rail network, separating suburban and long-distance rail traffic, and extending connectivity from Dahanu to the proposed Vadhvan Port in Palghar. Notably, this marks the first time Indian Railways is planning to link airport access directly with suburban train services.

Surveys are currently underway for two dedicated rail links to NMIA: a 4-km stretch from Khandeshwar station on the CSMT-Panvel Harbour Line and a 1-km link from Targhar on the Seawoods/Belapur-Uran corridor. The total survey cost is estimated at ₹10 lakh.

On Central Railway, key projects include constructing a fourth line between Asangaon and Kasara to complement ongoing work on the Kalyan-Asangaon stretch, as well as adding new lines on the Badlapur-Karjat section under the PM Gati Shakti scheme. Land acquisition is in progress for the 32-km Kalyan-Asangaon segment. Meanwhile, the ₹1,510 crore Badlapur-Karjat corridor—part of MUTP Phase-3A—is set to boost services for Badlapur, Ambarnath, and Ulhasnagar.

On Western Railway, a survey is planned for a new 75-km Dahanu-Vadhvan Port line, aimed at strengthening rail connectivity to the proposed port.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.