With the north-south suburban rail system bursting at the seams carrying 70-lakh plus commuters daily, plans to spread the load from the current network by improving the east-west region connectivity lies in the state’s hand, railway officials say.

Last week, railway authorities made a presentation to the Chief Secretary and other senior officials from the state government with a proposal to develop the Virar-Vasai-Diva-Panvel stretch, Karjat-Panvel line, 3rd and 4th lines on the Virar-Dahanu stretch and a fast corridor on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST)-Panvel Harbour line. “We have made presentations to the state government for these new rail corridors,” said Prabhat Ranjan, chief PRO, Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC).