for more than twenty crores MumbaikarsLocal train is not just transportation – it is regularity, flexibility and reliability. The suburban railway network here is more than infrastructure; This is the heartbeat of the city. Every morning before sunrise, the platforms are filled with people looking for livelihood and aspirations. Every night, the last local takes us home to a city that refuses to slow down.
Keeping this massive system safe, reliable and able to handle increasing demand is one of the most complex urban mobility challenges anywhere in the world. As the city becomes denser and rapidly growing, the Western and Central Railways is undertaking a quiet but determined transformation to increase capacity, modernize stations, improve safety and make everyday travel more humane. Over the past few years, we have embarked on one of the most intensive phases of upgrading in Mumbai’s suburban rail history – not through isolated projects, but through a coordinated, system-wide approach.
Mumbai Suburban Railway Operates at one of the highest densities globally. Western Railway (WR) operates over 1400 suburban services daily, while Central Railway (CR) operates around 1810 services on its Main Line, Harbor Line and Trans-Harbour Corridor. With limited land and ever-increasing demand, capacity expansion requires precise planning.
capacity expansion
Working towards realizing the Prime Minister’s dream of a developed India, all efforts are being made to develop railway infrastructure in Mumbai. Multiple projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore are currently underway to transform the way our esteemed passengers travel in our suburban system by adding critical capacity and increasing accessibility in congested corridors. The Borivali-Virar and Virar-Dahanu road extensions will separate suburban and main line traffic on the northern stretches of Western Railway, enabling significantly more local services. The Panvel-Karjat corridor will form an important link, reducing the travel time by about 30 minutes while reducing pressure on the main Central line. The Kalyan-Asangaon and Kalyan-Badlapur projects address critical bottlenecks where existing tracks operate at more than 150 per cent capacity. These multiple new infrastructure and network expansion projects are expected to create more than 30 per cent new capacity for our suburban passengers over the next four to five years.
stations that work
Unless stations are redesigned according to current realities, tracks and trains alone cannot solve overcrowding. Lot’s of Mumbai stations They were built decades ago and today handle a number of people far greater than their original capacity. Under MUTP-3A and Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, major stations of both the railway zones are being extensively upgraded. The focus has been on wider elevated decks, additional foot overbridges, escalators, lifts, better lighting, clear signage and smooth passenger circulation. Additionally, in 2024-25 alone, over Rs 500 crore was invested in enhancing and upgrading passenger amenities in the Mumbai divisions of CR&WR, with special emphasis on platform raising and extension, provision of lifts and escalators and other key amenities.
Khar Road station on Western Railway has emerged as a benchmark, with its large elevated deck reducing crowding on the platforms. Similar upgrades are also underway in Kandivali, Mira Road, Bhayandar, Vasai, Nalasopara and Santa Cruz. On CR, stations like Dombivali, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Bhandup, Chembur, Govandi and Mankhurd are seeing visible improvement.
But VirarA new home platform is being constructed to accommodate 15-coach trains, while stations on the Virar-Dahanu corridor are being upgraded with better booking offices, foot overbridges, lighting and amenities.
access required
Accessibility has become a central pillar of station development. Hundreds of lifts and escalators have been installed at suburban stations, making daily travel easier for senior citizens, disabled persons, pregnant women and families. Over 748 lifts and escalators are now digitally monitored through a centralized system, allowing real-time tracking and quick restoration in case of malfunction. This shift from reactive to proactive maintenance has significantly improved reliability.
infrastructure improvements This includes installing ramps, tactile tiles on platform edges to prevent disabled passengers from falling on the tracks and dedicated Divyangjan and senior citizen coaches with painted signage on the coach interface for easy identification. Recent station upgrades have prioritized accessibility with features such as disability-friendly counters and tactile paths for seamless movement, representing ongoing efforts to transform one of the world’s busiest commuter networks into a more accessible system for all passengers.
Over the last seven to eight years, there has been a renewed focus on construction of new ones as well as renovation of old Road Overbridges (ROBs) and Foot Overbridges (FOBs) to provide greater freedom and convenience of travel. In recent years, in collaboration with local authorities, we have demolished and renovated 29 ROBs and 111 FOBs, and work on others is underway.
modern rolling stock
passenger safety Remains supreme. The transition towards automatic doors in suburban trains along with the induction of new generation rakes is an important step towards reducing accidents caused by overcrowding and unsafe boarding.
Mumbai’s closed-door AC local trains represent a transformative upgrade for the city’s 80 lakh daily commuters. Automatic door systems dramatically increase safety by preventing passengers from hanging onto footboards or boarding moving trains – dangerous practices. Beyond safety, AC coaches offer superior travel comfort with controlled temperatures, low noise and protected interiors that protect passengers from extreme heat and monsoon conditions.
Daily average AC local ridership in Mumbai to more than double from 99,000 in 2022-23 to 2,48,000 in 2025-26, clearly underlining the increasing patronage by our esteemed passengers. The closed environment ensures clean air circulation and dignity during peak rush hours. Given Mumbai’s growing population and commuters’ expectations, transition to a fully AC suburban system in a phased manner is considered an imperative. It will standardize safety protocols across all services, provide consistent comfort regardless of ticket type, and position Mumbai’s railway network as a world-class transport system befitting India’s financial capital. Also, non-AC services are being strengthened to ensure affordability and inclusivity.
digital devices
Technology is quietly reshaping the way passengers interact with the railway system. UPI and QR-code payments are now available at booking counters, ATVMs and POS machines.
The UTS On mobile app has reduced queues during peak hours and simplified ticketing, and is now being integrated with the Rail One app. The Mumbai One app and Mumbai 1 smart card have taken it a step further, allowing seamless travel across suburban rail, metro, monorail and city buses. Real-time train indicators, better public announcement system and centralized monitoring of facilities ensure that passengers are better informed and issues are resolved faster.
Ticket checking has also been reimagined. Initiatives like the Namaste campaign focus on combining perseverance with dignity. Ticket-checking staff are equipped with hand-held terminals, while body-worn cameras and CCTV-monitored areas increase transparency and security, reducing friction between staff and passengers. Dedicated squads are ensuring that ticketless travel is discouraged in both AC and non-AC services.
natural partner
Mumbai’s expanded metro network, especially the fully operational Aqua Line 3, has emerged as a strong complementary mode. By absorbing short and medium distance trips through dense commercial corridors, metro services help reduce pressure on suburban trains. Integrated ticketing ensures that passengers experience public transport as one connected system.
road ahead
Mumbai’s suburban railway system must constantly evolve to match the city it serves. Capacity expansion, modern stations, passenger amenities, digital convenience, security upgrades and metro integration are not isolated initiatives – they are part of a long-term vision, and we will strive to achieve them. We are always happy to see the immense support we receive from our passengers and we hope this continues. As users, it is our collective responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of our railway stations. Simple actions like putting waste in dustbins, not spitting on platforms, avoiding littering and reporting unhygienic conditions can transform our stations into cleaner, healthier places. When we treat our railway stations the same way we treat our homes, we not only create a more pleasant travel experience for ourselves but also show respect to fellow passengers, railway staff and our city.
Mumbai runs because its local trains run. Strengthening this lifeline remains our unwavering commitment – today and for decades to come.
(Vivek Kumar Gupta is the General Manager of Western and Central Railways)
