To speed up work on the fifth and sixth tracks between Mumbai Central and Borivali on the Western Railway (WR), local train service on the harbour line between Goregaon and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) will be shut down for three straight months.
Senior Western Railway officials have confirmed this decision, and it is likely to be officially implemented soon, media reported.
The main reason for this block is to make space for the new tracks. The old railway bridge between Bandra and Khar needs to be demolished and rebuilt. Initially, the work was supposed to take six months, but to reduce inconvenience for passengers, the period has been cut down to three months. This block will directly affect lakhs of passengers.
The entire Western Railway network upgrade, estimated at ₹964.84 crore, is targeted for completion by December 2027.
Currently, there are 88 local train trips between Goregaon and CSMT, and 106 between Bandra and CSMT. Around 3.62 lakh passengers travel daily from the Western Railway to Central Railway (CR), especially via the Harbour line. During the block, local train service between Goregaon and Bandra will be completely stopped, and the railway administration is considering running limited service between Bandra and CSMT.
The main reasons for the project’s delay are problems with land acquisition and incomplete rehabilitation work. The land at Shakti Mill in Mahalaxmi-Lower Parel is stuck in a court case, and rehabilitation of 155 families in Garib Nagar, Bandra East, is yet to be completed. According to the railway administration, the inconvenience for three months will help make the local train service faster, more punctual, and smoother in the future.
Under normal operating conditions, a direct trip from Goregaon to CSMT takes roughly 54 to 59 minutes.
Commuters from Goregaon and nearby stations are advised to use the Western Line (Churchgate-bound) or road transport to reach Bandra and then connect to the available Harbour Line services or the Central Railway network.
When fully operational, the Goregaon-CSMT Harbour Line serves the following key stations: Goregaon (Origin)
Ram Mandir, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Vile Parle, Santa Cruz, Khar Road, Bandra (Connection point), Mahim Jn, King’s Circle, Vadala Road (Junction for Panvel line), Sewri, Cotton Green, Reay Road, Dockyard Road, Sandhurst Road, Masjid, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Terminus).
Source: News18