Mumbai division of Western Railway (WR) is going to construct a 2.5-kilometre elevated line between Mahim and Khar Road. It will streamline direct transit for long-distance trains like Vande Bharat, Shatabdi, and two Rajdhani Express trains.
The decision to build an elevated corridor on the fifth line between Mahim and Khar was prompted by encroachments on the alignment. It will also eliminate the need for track changes.
Currently, the railway network consists of four lines between Churchgate and Mumbai Central. But this increases to five lines from Mumbai Central to Mahim (one for long-distance trains and four for suburban trains). Beyond Mahim to Khar, the number drops back to four lines and then rises to seven lines (four suburban, two harbour, and one long distance) from Khar to Goregaon.
The lack of a separate track from Mahim to Khar/Santacruz leads to delays as long-distance express trains merge with the suburban local train line at Mahim. This disrupts the local train movement and causes inconveniences for commuters.
Initially, the proposal included a track and level crossing; however, it faced opposition from locals due to limited access to a burial cemetery. In response, the Western Railway office presented two options: restoring the original plan or building an elevated corridor over various areas from Mahim to Khar.
The divisional office has expressed preference for the elevated corridor idea. The office is currently engaged in discussions with the building department to assess costs and plan the project accordingly.
The WR plays a vital role in Mumbai's transportation. It operates 1,394 daily local services and caters to over 27.24 lakh commuters on its suburban network, including 79 AC services.
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