The long-pending project to build the fifth and sixth railway lines between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kurla has moved a step closer to completion.
Central Railway (CR) has invited tenders to appoint a contractor for the remaining track work between Vidyavihar and Parel. The contract is estimated to cost ₹27.43 crore, and the selected contractor will have 24 months to complete the work.
Originally approved in 2008–09 at an estimated cost of ₹115 crore, the project aims to enhance the capacity of Mumbai's suburban railway network by separating suburban and long-distance train operations on one of the city's busiest rail corridors.
The project, however, missed its original deadline due to delays in land acquisition, the transfer of mill lands, encroachments, and various administrative hurdles.
A major obstacle—the removal of 27 permanent encroachments in Dadar (East)—has now been cleared, allowing Central Railway to begin the final phase of construction.
Once completed, the additional railway lines will segregate suburban local train traffic from long-distance mail and express services between CSMT and Kurla. At present, both services share the same corridor, often affecting punctuality and limiting the frequency of suburban trains.
The dedicated fifth and sixth lines are expected to improve operational efficiency, enhance punctuality, and enable Central Railway to increase the frequency of suburban local train services.
With the required land now available, Central Railway has initiated the remaining track work. The selected contractor will be responsible for track laying, sleeper installation, ballast spreading, construction of points and crossings, track linking, and conducting final technical trials before the new lines are commissioned. The entire scope of work is scheduled to be completed within 24 months.