From Panvel-Karjat to Sion, Mumbai rail projects make major progress in July, here's a list of upgrades

Mumbairsquos suburban rail infrastructure saw a major push in July with the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation MRVC completing or commissioning more than 20 major works across several projectsThe works included bridges subways electrification signalling elevated decks booking facilities and land acquisition The month also saw 42 girders launched at multiple locations and extensive overhead electrification workPanvelKarjat suburban corridor progressesThe PanvelKarjat new suburban corridor recorded several key milestones during JulySubways at Chikhale and Mohape were completed while Road Over Bridges 891 and 902 were opened to villagers Cabling work was also completed in Tunnels 1 and 3Around 4 km each of overhead equipment OHE catenary and contact wire along with 32 km of dropping wire was installed during the monthThe corridor is targeted to be ready for inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety CRS by the end of 2026VirarDahanu quadrupling gathers paceThe VirarDahanu quadrupling project also recorded important progressA Road Over Bridge over Level Crossing 55A and Minor Bridge 133 were completed PhaseI signalling and telecommunications works at Kelve Road were commissionedAutomatic signalling between Saphale and Kelve Road was also commissioned along with new electronic interlocking systemsProgress on BorivaliVirar fifth and sixth linesThe BorivaliVirar fifth and sixth line project crossed an important landacquisition milestone in JulyMRVC secured possession of 181 hectares of land at Bhayandar Staff quarters at Vasai Road and Bhayandar were also completedThe additional lines are aimed at improving the capacity and reliability of services on the busy Western Railway corridorElevated decks improve station connectivitySeveral station improvement works were also completedElevated decks at Kandivali and Mira Road were handed over to Western Railway An Eastside booking office was commissioned at MankhurdAt Ghatkopar a new 55metre elevated deck connecting the suburban stations foot over bridge FOB with the Metro FOB was opened to passengersThe facility also includes new staircases doubledischarge landings and skywalk connectivity42 girders launched at key locationsMRVC carried out major girderlaunching operations at Dombivli Dahisar Virar Bhayandar and Nallasopara during planned traffic and power blocksA total of 42 girders were launched for skywalk FOB and elevateddeck projectsThe operations were carried out during scheduled blocks to minimise disruption to suburban train servicesMaharashtra government increases MRVC capitalThe infrastructure push comes after the Maharashtra Cabinet approved a substantial increase in MRVCs authorised share capitalOn July 28 the Cabinet approved an increase in authorised share capital from Rs 25 crore to Rs 500 crore The paidup capital was increased from Rs 25 crore to Rs 225 croreThe move is expected to strengthen MRVCs financial capacity to undertake major suburban railway infrastructure projectsSion bridge reconstruction reaches key milestoneMeanwhile work on the railway portion of the Sion Road Over Bridge ROB reached a major milestone during a weekend blockCentral Railway successfully launched the second 500tonne semithrough steel girder over the operational railway corridor This completed the installation of both major girders in two night blocks of around three hours eachEach girder is 545 metres long and weighs around 500 tonnes Their installation over live railway tracks required detailed planning and coordination to minimise disruption to train servicesThe girderlaunching work is part of the CSMTKurla fifth and sixth line project and is an important step towards completing the new Sion ROBNew Sion bridge targeted for September 2026The new Sion bridge is targeted for commissioning in September 2026The 110yearold bridge connects the Eastern Express Highway with Lal Bahadur Shastri LBS Road and Dharavi Road It had been declared dangerous several years agoAn IIT bridge audit in 2020 had raised concerns about the structures deteriorated condition and warned that continuing to keep the bridge over operational railway lines was unsafe after its lifespan had expiredCentral Railway and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC are jointly reconstructing the bridgeThe new design will have no spans below the railway portion creating space for two additional railway lines as part of the fifth and sixth line project The railway portion of the existing bridge is around 40 metres long while the new structure will increase this to about 51 metresWith work progressing on new suburban corridors additional railway lines bridges station facilities signalling and electrification July marked a busy month for Mumbais rail infrastructure