Western Railway (WR) has unveiled plans to construct two new rail lines spanning the 26-kilometre Borivali-Virar route in Mumbai. The goal of this project is to efficiently separate suburban and long-distance train services. This will address the ongoing challenges of timely operations.
The construction is scheduled to start after the monsoon season. It will involve the removal of 50 buildings and the cutting of mangroves along the Vasai and Bhayandar creeks. Before the actual work begins, the railway infrastructure, office buildings, and housing facilities for employees will be demolished.
The project's estimated timeline is set at 30 months, with a projected cost of approximately INR 82 crore. To ensure smooth execution, the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) will oversee the tendering process. It will invite contractors to a meeting scheduled for the first week of August.
Currently, the Borivali-Virar stretch operates on four rail lines, with fast rail services significantly impacting punctuality during peak hours.
Acquiring additional land for the lines has proven to be a challenge. This is because of the presence of numerous buildings at Vile Parle and Borivali. But, with the implementation of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project-3A (MUTP-3A), the city and suburbs aim to tackle this issue. MUTP-3A is an initiative with a budget of INR 33,690 crore.
The authorities have also been granted permission to divert 12.78 hectares of mangrove forests in Dahisar, Thane's Penpada, and Palghar's Umele areas to accommodate the expansion.
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