Date: 2026-04-02Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
To Give Passengers a Better Experience Amid Rising Demand, Indian Railways Strengthens Services in Mumbai; Pursues Pending Land Acquisition for Bengaluru Local with State
**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Railways is strengthening services in Mumbai to meet rising demand and addressing implementation delays for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). Key initiatives include the induction of new AC and non-AC rakes, infrastructure upgrades at various stations, and the procurement of 238 new 12-car rakes. The document also highlights critical land acquisition challenges in Bengaluru, particularly for Corridor-4, where only 7.8 of 57 required acres have been acquired.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Mumbai Suburban Service Enhancements**
* **Increased Capacity:** For the 2025-26 period, four 12-car AC EMU rakes and one 15-car non-AC EMU rake have been added to the Mumbai network.
* **Service Frequency:** AC services on Western Railway increased from 109 to 133 on weekdays and 77 to 106 on weekends; total 15-car services increased from 211 to 227.
* **Daily Operations:** Indian Railways operates 3,234 suburban services daily in Mumbai, including 227 AC local services.
* **New Technology:** The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) is developing two non-AC EMU rakes with automatic door closure mechanisms to improve passenger safety.
**Infrastructure and Station Upgrades**
* **Capacity Works:** Major works completed or planned include pit lines at Bandra Terminus, platform extensions for 24 LHB coaches at Mumbai Central, and additional platforms at Jogeshwari and Dadar.
* **Extensive Upgrades:** Significant stabling lines and platforms are being added at Vasai Road, Panvel-Kalamboli, Kalyan, Parel, Virar, Dahanu Road, and Mira Road.
* **Platform Extensions:** Platform length extension work is underway at 34 stations to accommodate 15-car EMU trains.
**Strategic Railway Projects**
* **MUTP Sanctions:** Three phases of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) have been sanctioned: MUTP-II (₹8,087 crore), MUTP-III (₹10,947 crore), and MUTP-IIIA (₹33,690 crore).
* **New Fleet Procurement:** The procurement process for 238 rakes of 12-car trains with automatic doors (costing ₹19,293 crore) is currently underway.
* **Network Expansion:** Multiple projects are in progress, including the 6th line between Mumbai Central and Borivali and the extension of the Harbour Line from Goregaon to Borivali.
**Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP)**
* **Project Scope:** A 148.17 km network with four corridors is being implemented at a sanctioned cost of ₹15,767 crore.
* **Funding Structure:** Funded by the Government of India (20%), Government of Karnataka (20%), and debt (60%).
* **Implementation Status:** Approximately ₹2,659 crore has been spent. While land acquisition is complete for Corridor-2, Corridor-4 faces significant delays with only 13.6% of the required land acquired.
**Impact Analysis**
**Commuters (Mumbai & Bengaluru)**
**Impact**
Passengers will benefit from reduced overcrowding during peak hours, improved safety via automatic doors, and increased comfort through more AC services and longer (15-car) trains.
**Action Required**
No direct action is required, though commuters will experience changes in service frequency and station layouts.
**K-RIDE and Government of Karnataka**
**Impact**
K-RIDE is responsible for executing the 148 km Bengaluru project. Delays in land acquisition by the state government are currently hindering the progress of specific corridors, particularly Corridor-4.
**Action Required**
The State Government must expedite the acquisition of private land and the transfer of government land to resolve project delays.
**Indian Railways and MRVC**
**Impact**
These entities are tasked with the massive procurement of 238 new-generation rakes and the execution of multiple track expansion projects under the MUTP framework.
**Action Required**
Continued monitoring of project factors such as forest clearances, statutory approvals, and utility shifting to ensure timely completion of Mumbai network expansions.
Key Entities Referenced
Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP): The primary infrastructure framework (comprising phases II, III, and IIIA) for strengthening the Mumbai Suburban Rail Network through rake procurement and corridor expansion.
Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP): A 148 km rail project consisting of four corridors (Sampige, Mallige, Parijaata, and Kanaka) currently under implementation to improve suburban connectivity in Bengaluru.
Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE): A joint venture between the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways responsible for executing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project and managing land acquisition.
Ministry of Railways: The primary central ministry overseeing the expansion of suburban rail services, infrastructure upgrades in Mumbai, and project implementation in Bengaluru.
Integral Coach Factory (ICF): The railway manufacturing unit tasked with developing new generation Non-AC EMU rakes with automatic door closure mechanisms for enhanced passenger safety.
Ministry of Railways
To Give Passengers a Better Experience Amid
Rising Demand, Indian Railways Strengthens
Services in Mumbai; Pursues Pending Land
Acquisition for Bengaluru Local with State
4 New AC & 1 Non AC Rakes Added to Reduce Overcrowding
During Peak Hours in Mumbai Local
Out of the Four AC EMU Rakes, 2 Already Inducted by
Western Railways, Increasing AC Services from 109 to 133 on
Weekdays & 77 to 106 on Weekends
More Coaches Added to Ensure Comfortable Travel for Every
Passenger in Mumbai Local; 15-Car Services Increase from
211 to 227
With 3234 Sub Urban Services (227 AC Locals), Indian
Railways serves Mumbai Daily: Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw in Lok
Sabha
2 Non-AC EMUs with Automatic Doors are Being Developed
by ICF to Ensure Passenger Safety
Procurement of 238 New 12-Car Rakes Underway to
Strengthen Mumbai Suburban Rail Network
Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project of 148 Km Under
Implementation; ₹2,659 Cr Spent Out of Sanctioned ₹15,767
Cr Across Four Corridors
Only 7.8 Acre Out of 57 Acre Land Acquired; Railways
Pursuing with K-RIDE to Resolve Delays in Land Acquisition
Posted On: 02 APR 2026 6:56PM by PIB DelhiAt present, 3234 EMU local services including AC EMU services are operated by Western Railway and
Central Railway. Western Railway operates 1414 services including 133 AC services, while Central
Railway operates 1820 services including 94 AC services which inter-alia caters the need of passengers of
Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Virar and Panvel. To increase train handling capacity at various stations in
Mumbai area, following works have been completed/taken up/planned at various stations:
SN Location Details
1 Bandra Terminus 3 Pit Lines have been completed
2 Mumbai Central Platform extension for 24 LHB coaches
3 Jogeshwari 2 additional platforms
4 Dadar 1 additional platform
5 Vasai road 6 platforms, 3 pit lines and 5 stabling lines
6 Panvel-Kalamboli 5 platforms, 4 pit lines and 2 sick lines
7 Kalyan 6 platforms and 4 pit lines
8 LTT 4 platforms and 2 pit lines
9 Parel 6 platforms, 5 pit lines, 6 stabling lines
10 Virar 25 stabling lines
11 Dahanu road 11 stabling lines
12 Mira road 25 stabling lines
Platform length extension:
In addition to above, Platform extension work at 34 stations to accommodate 15 car EMUs have been
taken up.
To improve the capacity of rail network in Mumbai suburban area, Mumbai Urban Transport Project
(MUTP)-II costing ₹8,087 crore, MUTP-III costing ₹10,947 crore and MUTP-IIIA costing ₹33,690 crore
have been sanctioned. These projects include following works in Mumbai Suburban Area:
SN Name of project Cost
(₹ in crore)1 6th Line Mumbai Central-Borivali (30 km) 919
2 Extension of Harbour Line Goregaon-Borivali (7 km) 826
3 Virar-Dahanu Road 3rd & 4th Line (64 km) 3587
4 5th & 6th Line CSTM-Kurla (17.5 km) 891
5 Panvel-Karjat Suburban Corridor (29.6 km) 2782
6 Airoli-Kalwa (elevated) Suburban Corridor link (3.3 km) 476
7 5th & 6th line Borivali-Virar (26 km) 2184
8 4th line between Kalyan-Asangaon (32 km) 1759
9 3rd & 4th line between Kalyan-Badlapur (14.05 km) 1510
10 Kalyan Yard-Segregation of Main Line & Suburban 866
11 Vasai bye pass line (Double line) between Naigaon and Juchandra (5.73 Km) 176
12 3rd and 4th line between Badlapur & Karjat (32.46 km) 1324
13 4th line between Asangaon & Kasara (34.97 km) 794
14 Trespass Control (34 locations) 551
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which include the following:
● Land acquisition by State Government
● Forest clearance
● Shifting of infringing utilities
● Statutory clearances from various authorities
● Geological and topographical conditions of area
● Law and order situation in the area of project site
● Number of working months in a year for particular project site etc.
All these factors affect the completion time of the project/s.
New generation trains:
To enhance passenger carrying capacity, 238 rakes of 12 cars each with doors have been sanctioned under
MUTP-III & IIIA at a cost of ₹19,293 crore. The process for procurement of these rakes has been taken
up.Besides, introduction of train services including EMU services on any route/section, which is an on-going
process, depends on various factors which include:
● Capacity of that section
● Availability of path
● Availability of required rolling stock
● Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock
● Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets
Traffic pattern of the passengers on Indian Railways is monitored on regular basis and to cater to
additional demand, load of existing trains are augmented, new trains are introduced, frequency of existing
trains is increased etc. subject to operational feasibility.
The steps taken for providing additional rakes over Mumbai Suburban Rail Network are as under:-
1) During the year 2025-26, four 12-car rakes of AC EMU (2 each to CR & WR) and one 15-car rake of
Non-AC EMU to WR has been received to operate on Mumbai Suburban Rail Network.
2) In addition to above, ICF, Chennai has taken up development of two Non-AC EMU rakes with
Automatic Doors closure mechanism, to be put in service in Mumbai Suburban Area.
3) Procurement of 238 rakes of 12 car under MUTP-III & MUTP-IIIA by MRVC.
Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), a Company controlled by
State Government of Karnataka (51% equity) is executing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP).
BSRP (148.17 Km) has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹ 15,767 Cr. with 20% funding each by Government
of India and Government of Karnataka and 60% through debt.
There are four Corridors in BSRP. The status of these corridors is as under:
Corridor-1 (Sampige): KSR Bengaluru City – Devanahalli (41.4 Km)
Alignment plans have been approved. Land acquisition has been taken up by State Government. Shifting
of S&T and electrical utilities have also been taken up.
Corridor-2 (Mallige): Baiyyapanahalli – Chikkabanawara (25.01 Km)
The entire land acquisition has been completed. For station buildings, separate contracts have been
awarded and work is in progress. For other works, tender has been invited.
Corridor-3 (Parijaata): Kengeri – Whitefield (35.52 Km)
Alignment plans have been approved. Land acquisition has been taken up by State Government. Shifting
of S&T and electrical utilities have also been taken up.
Corridor-4 (Kanaka): Heelalige – Rajankunte (46.25 Km)
The land acquisition has been taken up. So far, 7.8 acre land out of 57 acre land has been acquired. For
station buildings, separate contracts have been awarded and work is in progress in the available land.
The project has been delayed due to non-acquisition of private land and transfer of State Government’s
land by the Government of Karnataka.
An expenditure of Rs. 2659 Cr. has been incurred on the BSRP project.
Regular coordination meetings of K-RIDE and Railway are being held regularly to resolve issues.This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and
Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to questions in Lok Sabha on
Wednesday.
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Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj
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