Mumbai: Passengers on the Western Railway (WR) suburban network are advised to avoid waiting for local trains at six key stations after 11 pm on Friday, January 24, due to a 9.5-hour mega block between Bandra and Mahim.
Stations Affected Due To The Block
The affected stations include Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, Prabhadevi, Matunga Road, Mahim and Khar Road. The mega block is being implemented to replace and strengthen the British-era bridge over the Mithi River, a critical infrastructure upgrade.
The block will take place over two nights. On January 24-25, it will be enforced on the slow lines between Mahim and Bandra from 11 pm to 8:30 am, with the down fast line also affected from 12:30 am to 6:30 am. Similarly, on January 25-26, the block will commence from 11 pm on Saturday and continue until 8:30 am on Sunday, affecting both UP and Down slow and fast lines.
Several Train Services Cancelled
During this period, 127 suburban services will be cancelled on the first night and approximately 150 on the second night, with around 60 services partially cancelled. To mitigate the inconvenience, Western Railway has arranged for some trains to run on alternative routes.
For instance, slow locals departing from Churchgate will operate on the fast corridor between Mumbai Central and Santacruz, skipping intermediate stations. On the other hand, slow trains from Virar, Bhayandar and Borivali will run on the fast corridor between Santacruz and Mumbai Central. On Saturday morning, services from Virar, Nalasopara, Vasai Road, Bhayandar, and Borivali will terminate at Andheri.
The first fast local from Virar to Churchgate after the block will depart at 5:47 am on Saturday, while the first down fast local from Churchgate will leave at 6:14 am.
To minimize the impact, the block has been scheduled at night when commuter traffic is lower. However, long-distance train services will also face disruptions during this period.
Western Railway officials have urged passengers to plan their journeys accordingly and avoid unnecessary travel during the block hours. This essential maintenance work is expected to enhance safety and reliability on the suburban network, particularly on the Bandra-Mahim stretch.
