Passengers will have to wait another 4 years for Panvel-Karjat direct local train

The Central railway line is being expanded to make the journey easier for the passengers traveling from Panvel station on Harbour line to Karjat. According to reports, the work on new suburban corridor between Panvel and Karjat has not yet gained momentum and the commuters will have to wait for at least another four years for this. The actual work on the new Panvel to Karjat dual carriageway under MUTP-3 will start within a month.

The officials have said that the work on this route is likely to be completed by 2024. Currently, Panvel to Karjat is used for long distance trains or freight.

The cost of Mumbai Railway Development Corporation's (MRVC) MUTP-3 projects is INR 10,947 crores, of which INR 2,782 crores is expected to be the cost for Panvel to Karjat corridor. The project was approved in December 2016 but it could not go ahead due to difficulties in funding, tender and land acquisition. Besides, several crucial railway projects of the city under MUTP-3 faced financial hurdles, including third and fourth lines between Virar and Dahanu, new suburban link between Airoli and Kalwa and trespass control on mid-section were cleared on Monday. 

It was decided to appoint a consultant to implement the Panvel to Karjat suburban dual carriageway project. The tenders were approved in May 2019. Now that its detailed project report has been submitted, survey and other works, which are left would be completed in a month and then the work would actually start.

Work on the interim project was halted due to lockdown implemented in the wake of COVID-19, but it has now been resumed. It will take four years to build a double suburban road. An elevated line will be constructed from the existing line at Panvel and this new line will come down after some distance. A small elevated bridge will also be constructed for this purpose. Similar work will be done at Karjat station.

Stations on this route

This dual carriage way will be of great benefit to the citizens living between Panvel and Karjat. The train will halt at five stations namely Panvel, Chowk, Mohape, Chikhale, Karjat. The double track was expected to take place in 2022, but now it will be further delayed.