The Ministry of Railways has given its crucial approval for a major infrastructure upgrade in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. On Tuesday, the ministry sanctioned the construction of the third and fourth railway lines between Badlapur and Karjat, a key segment of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3B (MUTP-3B). This decision follows the recent green light from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
Project Details and Scope
The ambitious quadrupling project spans a length of 32.46 kilometers and will run parallel to the existing railway alignment. The work will cover six important suburban stations: Badlapur, Vangani, Shelu, Neral, Bhivpuri Road, and Karjat. For its execution, the project requires approximately 37.79 hectares of private land, in addition to government and railway-owned land.
The project had already received prior consent from the Government of Maharashtra as part of the larger MUTP-3B proposal submitted by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) Ltd. The total completion cost has been assessed at a substantial Rs 1,324 crore. The funding for this critical upgrade will be shared equally between the Maharashtra state government and the Railways ministry. The MRVC has been assigned the responsibility for the execution and delivery of all infrastructure works.
Boosting Capacity on a Critical Corridor
An MRVC official explained the strategic importance of the project, stating it is designed to significantly enhance capacity on the Mumbai-Chennai high-density route. This corridor is one of the busiest in the country, handling immense passenger traffic and growing freight movement linked to upcoming ports and logistics terminals in the MMR.
The official further elaborated that the project's planning was based on comprehensive data inputs, including:
- Rail capacity studies
- Mobility trend analysis
- Satellite-based mapping
The expected benefits of the quadrupling are multifaceted and aim to transform the commuting experience:
- Better separation of suburban and mainline train paths
- Reduced congestion pressure at stations
- Improved scheduling flexibility for long-distance trains
- Strengthened passenger safety through boundary protection and station mobility enhancements
Leadership Perspective on the Project
Commenting on this significant development, MRVC CMD Vilas S Wadekar highlighted the transformative impact. He stated, "The Badlapur–Karjat quadrupling will result in complete segregation of mainline and suburban traffic in the Kalyan–Karjat section. The additional lines will support smoother movement for both suburban commuters and mainline passengers, while also enabling efficient freight operations on this high-density corridor. The project will further strengthen the safety and reliability of train operations in the MMR."
The project is expected to be completed within three to four years after the crucial process of land acquisition is finalized. This timeline sets the stage for a significant decongestion of a vital rail artery serving millions in the Mumbai metropolitan area.
