Three of Mumbai’s most critical railway infrastructure projects, aimed at easing the daily commute for millions, continue to remain incomplete years after their launch, primarily due to land acquisition and rehabilitation challenges. The projects—some pending for nearly 17 years —have drawn criticism from both commuters and government watchdogs.
The 5th and 6th line project between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kalyan, sanctioned under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project-II (MUTP-II) in 2008, is still awaiting full completion. While the lines have been commissioned between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Kalyan, the critical stretch between Kurla and CSMT remains incomplete.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has also slammed the Indian Railways for the “inordinate delay” in this project, now divided into two phases: Phase 1 from Kurla to Parel, currently under progress, and Phase 2 from Parel to CSMT. The primary bottleneck has been the rehabilitation of project-affected people—an area that falls under the state government’s jurisdiction.
Similarly, the Airoli-Kalwa elevated rail link, launched almost eight years ago, remains stuck. Meant to ease congestion at Thane—one of the busiest stations on the Central Railway—and provide a direct Navi Mumbai-Kalyan connection, this project has seen little progress due to delays in resettling affected families.
The Western Railway’s 5th and 6th line between Mumbai Central and Borivali, which also began around 17 years ago, is yet to be completed. According to sources, land acquisition has been the main hurdle, stalling progress despite ongoing work.
The main problem, especially along the Mahim to Bandra stretch, is encroachment, which needs to be tackled by the authorities concerned as soon as possible. Once the 5th and 6th lines between Mumbai Central and Borivali are completed, the carrying capacity of Western Railway’s suburban services is likely to increase by up to 20 percent, as the path for introducing several more suburban trains will become available
Hope Rests on Meeting Between CM and Railway Minister
With these delays affecting millions of daily commuters, there is renewed hope that the upcoming meeting between the Chief Minister and Railway Minister may bring some resolution, especially regarding rehabilitation and land acquisition issues. The projects are considered crucial for separating suburban and long-distance traffic and improving train punctuality.
“Unfortunately, the 5-6 track project remains incomplete, while the costly road was completed on a fast track, despite having a budget that was multiple times higher. The Kalwa-Airoli Link is another very important pending project. We are expecting a meeting between both leaders to resolve the problems and share a final deadline for these pending projects,” said Siddhesh Desai of Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh
Similarly, Shailesh Goyal, former member of the National Rail Users Consultative Council said, “Railway projects are being announced one after another due to political pressure, but earlier ones remain incomplete. The non-completion of projects on time affects the lives of millions of commuters in Mumbai,” Goyal added that a meeting between the Chief Minister and the Rail Minister is hoped to resolve land acquisition and rehabilitation issues related to pending projects in Mumbai’s suburban section
Once completed, the 5th and 6th lines will allow dedicated suburban corridors on Central Railway up to Kalyan and on Western Railway up to Borivali—significantly increasing capacity and reducing overcrowding.
Daily Struggles Continue for Commuters
Currently, Central Railway operates 1,810 suburban services on weekdays, while Western Railway runs 1,406. Yet, during peak hours, overcrowding remains severe, with commuters often forced to hang from footboards due to lack of space. In 2024 alone, the Government Railway Police reported around 570 fatalities due to passengers falling from moving trains.
“There must be a tolerance provision for projects related to railways and transportation to provide the best possible service to passengers in a timely manner. In developed countries, projects are completed within the timeframe. Government authorities need to address such deficiencies and insufficiencies,” said Samir Zaveri, a noted passenger activist.
Lata Argade leader of the Federation of Mumbai Passengers Association said, “Day by day, the number of passengers dying due to falling from overcrowded trains between Thane and Dombivli is increasing. Boarding a train from Dombivli has become nearly impossible, especially during the morning rush hours. To address this, the state government must make efforts to strengthen public transport options beyond the railways for citizens living beyond Diva station. Until then, the Chief Minister, as the guardian of the state, must take the initiative to implement immediate measures on a priority basis to reduce overcrowding,”.
