Can more trains be accommodated in the city? According to analysts, if new termini and rail hubs are not built on the outskirts of the city, the recent approval of large projects that would expand the capacity and number of trains connecting other parts of the country to the city will simply cause congestion and more delays.
Western Railway (WR) has declared plans to construct termini at Jogeshwari and Vasai, while Central Railway (CR) is developing a full-fledged mega terminus at Panvel station with a maintenance yard and other related facilities.
In Mumbai, WR now operates 1,406 suburban services, with an average of 46 trains arriving and departing daily (Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus, Dadar and Borivali). In addition, there are 60 trains that stop at Vasai Road and travel to the CR or Vadodara. Between Vadodara and Vasai, these trains go (30 up and 30 down). Additionally, two goods trains operated by the Food Corporation—one up and one down—travel to Jogeshwari.
CAPACITY INCREASE
Prathamesh Prabhutendolkar, joint secretary of the Dahanu Vaitarna Pravasi Sevabhavi Sanstha, said that train capacity will be expanded three to four times after the Virar-Dahanu Road quadrupling is finished in the coming years. This will be in addition to the high-speed rail route and stations, as well as the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).
As newer townships are developed, the industrial and residential belt of Virar-Dahanu Road will not only experience an increase in real estate but also attract more people because of the open space. People will travel from these more recent townships outside of Virar; do you think they will visit Borivali, Jogeshwari, or even Vasai, for that matter? Beyond Virar, the WR needs to establish a full-fledged mega terminal, he said.
He added at the optimum location for decluttering the city is Dahanu, which is outside of Mumbai. WR should establish a terminus there since it will stop the disruptions to the suburban train timetable. The greatest location for a terminal would be Dahanu, as a link between Dahanu and Nashik is imminent. There is open area there, and the WR ought to take this into account.
IS PANVEL BECOMING MEGA TERMINUS?
Panvel station is being transformed into a rail hub by CR. Numerous routes merge there, and the DFC passes by with a maintenance yard and a full-fledged terminal on the way. The work is already in a highly developed stage. The new Panvel terminus project includes a home platform with a passenger circulation space as well as a new island platform that is 26 coaches long.
It also entails creating a 1,500-square-meter station building with auxiliary amenities and a foot overbridge. In addition, the new Kalamboli maintenance hub has a 130x10-meter shed, two stabling lines of 26 coaches in length, four washing-cum-pit lines, and entry-exit lines for 26-coach trains.
A distinct third line will connect the Panvel terminal and the Kamboli coaching complex, providing the required connectivity on both sides to avoid interfering with the current operational traffic.
NEW LINES ON THE WAY
The Bhusawal-Khandwa third and fourth lines, and the Manmad-Jalgaon fourth line are three significant railway projects that were recently approved. These routes will allow more trains to reach the city's nine current rail termini, which are undergoing simultaneous upgrades. These initiatives seek to fortify the Mumbai-Prayagraj-Varanasi line, boost communication with Madhya Pradesh, and upgrade railway infrastructure throughout Maharashtra.
Some of the major routes between Mumbai and Prayagraj will see much-needed infrastructure development as a result of the proposed multi-tracking projects, which will simplify operations and lessen traffic.
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