Centre approves Badlapur–Karjat 3rd and 4th rail line project to boost connectivity in Mumbai Metropolitan Region

The Badlapur–Karjat section forms part of the Mumbai suburban corridor. Representational Pic

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the 32-km Badlapur-Karjat 3rd and 4th line project.

The Badlapur-Karjat section forms part of the Mumbai suburban corridor. The addition of the 3rd and 4th lines will improve connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, meet future passenger demand, and enhance links to southern India.

While work on the Kalyan-Badlapur 3rd and 4th line project is already underway, with 21 per cent completed and a target date of December 2026, the newly approved corridor will extend the network from Badlapur to Karjat.

The 32.460-km Badlapur-Karjat brownfield project is expected to ease congestion along the Mumbai-Pune-Solapur-Wadi-Chennai corridor. "The existing two lines between Kalyan and Karjat are carrying mixed traffic of mail/express trains, goods trains, and suburban services. The satellite towns of Badlapur, Ambernath, and Ulhasnagar require improved suburban rail connectivity to Kalyan and Mumbai. Current services originate from terminals at Ambernath, Badlapur, Karjat, and Khopoli, but cannot be increased due to saturation on the Kalyan-Badlapur section," an official explained.