18 March,2026 10:00 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. File Pic
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday announced that Mumbai suburban train network was allocated Rs 3,000 crore subsidy and 238 new services has been planned.
He highlighted key structural reforms in Indian Railways while replying to questions in Parliament, with Maharashtra and Mumbai expected to benefit significantly.
The Railways has received a record allocation of Rs 2.78 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2026-27.
As part of passenger-focused initiatives, 71,000 special trains were operated in 2025-26, while holding areas are being developed at 75 stations to manage crowding.
The government also continues to provide a subsidy of Rs 60,000 crore, offering nearly 45 per cent concession to passengers.
Under the station redevelopment programme, 1,300 stations are being upgraded across the country. Of these, 180 are already complete, around 500 are nearing completion, and work on the rest is progressing.
The Centre provides an annual subsidy of Rs 3,000 crore for Mumbai's suburban railway network, ensuring affordable travel for millions of commuters. To enhance safety, 238 new suburban trains with automatic door-closing systems are being manufactured for the city.
Capacity augmentation works are underway in 48 cities, including Mumbai and Pune, with the addition of platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and coaching terminals.
Seven bullet train corridors are also being planned, including the Mumbai-Pune route, which is expected to cut travel time to just 48 minutes, and the Pune-Hyderabad corridor, reducing travel time to around two hours.
Work on India's first bullet train project is progressing rapidly, including the construction of the country's first undersea tunnel. A total of seven tunnels spanning 21 km are planned, of which 5 km have been completed so far, with breakthroughs achieved in two tunnels.
The project has also seen significant progress in infrastructure, including 435 km of foundation work, 426 km of pier construction, 168 km of track laying, and installation of overhead equipment masts across 146 km. Bridges across 17 rivers are also under construction.
Preparations are also underway for the upcoming Kumbh Mela events, including Nashik, with major infrastructure upgrades planned at key railway stations.
Mumbai's daily commuters on the suburban rail network, one of the busiest in the world, handling around 3,200 suburban trains and 120 originating Mail/Express services every day, can expect relief from overcrowding and improved safety as Indian Railways pushes ahead with ambitious infrastructure projects.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha last week, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw detailed steps being taken to increase train-handling capacity at key stations and expand the network under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) phases.
Among the highlights are completed or ongoing works such as additional pit lines at Bandra Terminus, platform extensions at Mumbai Central for longer coaches, new platforms at Jogeshwari and Dadar, and stabling lines at Virar, Dahanu Road, and Mira Road.
