In a significant move to decongest Mumbai's crucial suburban rail network, the central government has given its final clearance for the construction of a dedicated fourth railway line between Asangaon and Kasara. This approval paves the way for creating separate corridors for suburban local trains and long-distance mail, express, and freight services on the busy Mumbai-Nashik route.
Project Details and Funding
The ambitious 35-kilometer-long corridor, a key part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-3B), is estimated to cost Rs 871 crore. The funding for this critical infrastructure will be shared equally between the central and the Maharashtra state governments. The project is being executed under the umbrella of the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
This clearance follows the recent approval for third and fourth lines between Kalyan and Karjat, granted on December 30, 2025. Officials confirmed that both the Asangaon-Kasara and the Badlapur-Karjat projects under MUTP-3B have now received all necessary statutory approvals. Additionally, the Panvel-Vasai suburban rail corridor is also anticipated to get its final nod soon.
Phased Implementation to Ease Congestion
The broader plan to augment capacity on this section involves a phased approach. Under the earlier MUTP-3A, approval was already secured for a third line between Kalyan and Kasara. This project is being implemented in two distinct phases: Kalyan to Asangaon and Asangaon to Kasara.
Currently, the construction wing of Central Railway (CR) is actively working on the Kalyan-Asangaon stretch. For the remaining sections, including the newly approved fourth line, the process of land acquisition is currently in progress. Railway authorities have emphasized that the demand for these separate corridors has been pending for many years.
Impact on Daily Commuters
The primary benefit of these new lines will be the segregation of long-distance and goods trains from local suburban services. This separation is expected to dramatically ease the chronic congestion on the network, which frequently causes delays and even cancellations of local trains, affecting lakhs of daily commuters.
By freeing up capacity, Central Railway will be able to introduce additional local train services on the route, offering much-needed relief to the public. The state government had previously declared the MUTP-3B package an urgent public infrastructure project, highlighting its importance for the Mumbai metropolitan region's mobility and economic growth.
