The Central Government has already approved a massive investment of Rs 52,724 crore for the upgradation and expansion of Mumbai's suburban railway network under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phases II, III, and IIIA. The Minister of Railways shared this information on July 25 in a written reply to a question raised by a member in the Rajya Sabha.
Breaking down the allocations, the minister stated that Rs 8,087 crore has been allotted for MUTP-II, Rs 10,947 crore for MUTP-III, and the largest sum of Rs 33,690 crore for MUTP-IIIA. The projects are being jointly implemented by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd (MRVC), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways and the Government of Maharashtra, following a 50:50 cost-sharing model.
Under MUTP-III, significant infrastructure projects are underway, including the new Panvel-Karjat suburban corridor, quadrupling of the Virar-Dahanu rail line, and construction of an elevated corridor between Airoli and Kalwa. Additional initiatives involve installing trespass control systems and procuring new rolling stock to enhance safety and capacity.
Indian Railways has also prioritized the heavily congested Churchgate–Virar corridor. Plans are in motion for multi-tracking the route, including four tracks between Churchgate and Mumbai Central, eight tracks from Mumbai Central to Borivali, and six tracks between Borivali and Virar. On the CSMT-Panvel stretch, work has already begun for the construction of the 5th and 6th lines between Kurla and Parel.
"In a bid to further decongest the suburban rail system, 238 new 12-car rakes have been approved under MUTP-III and IIIA, at a cost of Rs 19,293 crore. These new trains aim to ease overcrowding and significantly boost passenger capacity during peak hours" minister stated.
Apart from network expansion, the Ministry of Railways is working toward integrating suburban rail stations with metro networks to support seamless urban mobility. Presently, Andheri East and Ghatkopar railway stations are integrated with nearby metro stations, and the railway authorities have expressed readiness to work with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for further integration efforts.
"In addition, Mumbai’s suburban network is benefiting from the nationwide Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which seeks to modernize 1,337 railway stations across the country. In Maharashtra, 132 stations are included under the initiative. Phase-I redevelopment has been completed at 15 stations in the state, including five suburban stations in Mumbai — Parel, Chinchpokli, Vadala Road, Matunga, and Shahad" minister stated in his written reply.
