In a major relief for Mumbai local train commuters Panvel-Borivali-Vasai suburban corridor gets nod: Report

After years of delays and anticipation, the Panvel–Borivali–Vasai local train corridor, a long-pending demand of Mumbai’s suburban rail users, is finally set to take shape under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) III-B. The 69.23-km independent suburban line aims to transform daily travel for thousands of Panvel residents who currently face the hassle of changing trains at Kurla or Wadala on the Harbour Line, Mid-Day reported.

The corridor, with an updated cost of ₹12,710.82 crore, will create a dedicated line linking Panvel with both Borivali and Virar via Vasai. According to officials from the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), the project is designed to significantly strengthen east–west connectivity and decongest existing suburban routes. “It will be a two-pronged line having links to both, the Borivali end and the Vasai end. The proposal has already received a green light from the Maharashtra government’s Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure,” a senior official confirmed.

Unlike the current Panvel–Diva–Vasai route, the new corridor will operate independently, much like the Panvel–Karjat model, ensuring seamless connectivity. The broader MUTP III-B package also includes construction of a third line between Badlapur and Karjat (32.46 km, at ₹1,325.02 crore) and a fourth line between Asangaon and Kasara (34.97 km, at ₹871.63 crore), taking the total project outlay to ₹14,907.47 crore.

Alspo read | Northeast Frontier Railway to run 7 additional special trains to clear festive rush

For commuters, the project promises a long-awaited respite. “Changing trains at Kurla during peak hours is a nightmare. This corridor will save us time and energy,” said daily traveller Ravindra Patil. Officials added that the new alignment would bypass heavily congested junctions, cutting travel times and providing direct access to northern parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Meanwhile, the tabloid quoted Rajiv Singal, member of the Western Railway Mumbai Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee as saying: “This will boost the entire region, especially the Bhiwandi area — the Manchester of India. I have been raising this issue for the last two decades.”

Former National Railway Users Consultative Committee member Shailesh Goyal said the paper that the corridor would benefit both long-distance passengers and industrial. “The new Vasai–Panvel suburban corridor will become very convenient for western suburbs passengers to catch trains for Goa and Pune from Panvel. The line will also prove extremely useful for powerloom industry workers in Bhiwandi,” he said.

Officials cautioned that while the project’s completion will take time, the approval marks a “major step towards easing the burden on existing networks and boosting accessibility across the MMR.”