Western Railway (WR) has begun work to extend platforms on the Andheri–Bandra slow line so that 15-car local trains can run through them also. The goal is to increase capacity by an estimated 700–1,000 passengers per train. This is expected to be a major relief for suburban rail commuters.
Work at Khar station has already started. Similar improvements at Bandra, Santacruz, and Vile Parle will start soon. Western Railway aims to complete all platform extensions before the next monsoon season. The project also involves modifying train alignments, overhead equipment cables, and signalling poles.
Currently, the platforms on this stretch are too short to accommodate 15-car trains. Once the modifications are complete, 15-car services from Virar to Bandra will be planned starting from March. Bandra is a major station with a daily footfall of 4–5 lakh people, including thousands commuting to the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
At present, WR runs 211 fifteen-car trains between Churchgate and Virar. Only 112 of these end at Andheri via the slow corridor. All 12-car trains running between Bandra and Andheri will be upgraded to 15-car trains once the platforms are ready.
The overall carrying capacity of the suburban rail network is expected to rise by 75,000–100,000 passengers per day with this development. A 12-car train currently carries 3,504 passengers, while a 15-car rake can hold 4,380 passengers. Longer trains and better availability will help distribute the commuter load more evenly.
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