Mumbai’s lifeline, the local train, often faces ventilation issues during peak hours. To address these concerns, steps are being taken to make the journey airy and more comfortable. The railway budget has made provisions for this, with the Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing on Monday that the design of local trains will be modified to improve oxygen levels inside the coaches.
Additionally, to ease congestion, the minister has announced an increase of 300 local train services over the next five years. Several new railway line projects under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) are progressing rapidly to support this expansion. Notably, projects worth ₹16,400 crore are currently underway on the Mumbai suburban railway network. Maharashtra has been allocated ₹23,778 crore in the railway budget for the fiscal year 2025-26.
Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the renovation of railway stations in Maharashtra under the ‘Amrit Bharat Scheme’ is progressing rapidly. 132 railway stations in Maharashtra are being renovations as part of this project. He also mentioned that so far, 2,105 kilometers of new railway tracks have been constructed in the state, further strengthening Maharashtra’s railway network.
22 Amrit Stations to Be Developed
Under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, 22 stations on the Mumbai suburban railway network will be developed. These include:
- Western Railway: Andheri, Bandra Terminus, Borivali, Charni Road, Dadar, Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Jogeshwari, Lower Parel, Matunga, and Marine Lines.
- Central Railway: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Chinchpokli, Dadar, Diva, Kalyan Junction, Kanjurmarg, Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, and Mumbra.
Overall, Maharashtra will see the development of 132 Amrit Bharat stations at a total cost of ₹5,587 crore.
Increased Coaching Capacity
With a growing number of local and express train passengers on Mumbai’s suburban network, efforts are being made to expand coaching capacity. This will help accommodate more passengers and allow additional trains to be introduced to reduce overcrowding.
