Mumbai's Dadar station redevelopment finally begins after years of delays

Commuters headed to a footbridge at Dadar station. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

After years of discussions, stalled proposals and shifting plans, the long-awaited redevelopment of Dadar station has finally begun. Western Railway's suburban hub will soon get a major upgrade, with elevated decks designed to connect multiple foot overbridges and ease the crush of daily commuters.

The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), in coordination with Western Railway, has started work on a new elevated deck at Dadar WR station to improve passenger circulation, link existing FOBs, and enhance overall commuter convenience at one of Mumbai's busiest junctions. The project will be executed in two phases.

Phase I

In the first phase, an elevated deck measuring around 100 metres by 33 metres is being built across Platforms 1, 2, and 3. It will connect the two FOBs at the north or Virar end of the station.
This section will include: 4 staircases, 4 escalators, 2 lifts

Dadar railway station sees a footfall of five to six lakh passengers every day. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Phase II

Once Phase I is completed, a second elevated deck will be built above Platform 1, measuring approximately 100 metres by 15 metres.
It will include: 2 staircases, 2 escalators, 1 lift

Integrated movement

After both phases are completed, the new decks will interconnect four northern FOBs at Dadar, creating seamless movement across platforms and improving accessibility for all passengers, including seniors and those with reduced mobility. Given Dadar's massive footfall, construction is being carried out in a staggered, tightly coordinated manner to ensure that train operations continue smoothly and commuter safety is maintained.

Official speak

"Dadar is among the busiest stations on the Western Railway suburban network. The elevated deck is being constructed in phases with meticulous planning to balance execution speed, commuter safety and uninterrupted rail operations," said Sunil G Udasi, chief spokesperson of MRVC. "Once completed, this integrated deck will ease passenger movement, reduce congestion on existing FOBs and improve the overall experience."

Footfall

Combined Western and Central Railway traffic gives Dadar a daily footfall of five to six lakh passengers. Because of this heavy load, work has been split into phases to minimise disruption.

Voices

Karan Nagraj Patil, Commuter and student
‘I'm happy the authorities are finally taking this station seriously. Let's hope the timelines don't stretch endlessly.'

Subhash HG, Commuter activist
‘The work should have started earlier, but better late than never.'

Amit Khurana, Commuter and businessman
‘We've heard promises before, but seeing actual work begin is reassuring.'

Sanjana D'Mello, Commuter
‘During peak hours, Dadar feels impossible to navigate. An elevated deck may help, but construction will also mean digging up platforms.'

Rajesh Nair, Retired marketing executive
‘If these decks reduce even half the crowding, it will feel like a miracle.'