Railways to stop 88 Mumbai local trains for three months: Routes, reason and impact

Western Railway will suspend local train services between Goregaon and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) for three months, affecting a corridor that currently operates 88 local services daily and carries thousands of passengers.

According to a report prepared by Navbharat TimesThe closure is required for the demolition and reconstruction of the Bandra-Khar railway bridge. The bridge work is a critical part of the project to add fifth and sixth rail lines between Mumbai Central and Borivali, which aims to improve efficiency and reduce congestion in the suburban network. The block period was initially planned for six months but was later reduced to three months to limit the inconvenience of commuting.

This is not the first disruption associated with the expansion project. The construction of the fifth and sixth lines between Kandivali and Borivali between December and January led to the cancellation of 200-250 local trains per day for about a month. With the completion of this phase, the work has now shifted to the more complex Goregaon-CSMT section.

However, there is some relief for passengers. Local train services will continue to operate between Bandra and CSMT as the fifth and sixth lines between Bandra and Borivali have been completed.

The Western Railway expansion project was approved at a cost of ₹964.84 crore. Currently, 88 local trains operate between Goregaon and CSMT and 106 trains operate between Bandra and CSMT.

Passengers from Goregaon and nearby stations are advised to use Churchgate-bound Western Line services or road transport to reach Bandra and from there connect to Harbor Line or Central Railway services.
Stations on the affected route include Ram Mandir, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Vile Parle, Santacruz, Khar Road, Bandra, Mahim Junction, King’s Circle, Vadala Road, Sewri, Cotton Green, Reay Road, Dockyard Road, Sandhurst Road, Masjid and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.