Commuters in Mumbai are set to face significant disruptions as the Western Railway (WR) announced a major 30-day block, leading to the daily cancellation of around 80 suburban services and the regulation of several long-distance trains. The block, which begins on Saturday, December 30, and will continue until Thursday, January 18, is essential for the final connection work to commission the extended sixth railway line up to Borivli.
Details of the Disruption and Daily Planning
WR's chief public relations officer, Vineet Abhishek, confirmed the operational changes. He stated that during this period, suburban services will face cancellations, while certain long-distance trains will be short-terminated, short-originated, rescheduled, regulated, or will skip their scheduled halt at Borivli station. In a relief for New Year revellers, Abhishek added that the railway will strive to keep cancellations to a bare minimum on Sunday, December 31, when passenger demand is expected to peak due to celebrations.
The specific local train services to be cancelled will be decided on a day-to-day basis between 11:30 PM and 4:30 AM. Commuters are advised to stay updated by checking the official Western Railway website and its social media handles for the latest information on affected trains.
Cause of Cancellations and Project Background
The widespread cancellations are a direct result of the suspension of the fifth line on this corridor for the entire block period. This line will be completely closed for passenger operations, and speed restrictions will be imposed on the remaining operational lines. Consequently, all mail, express, and suburban trains that typically use the fifth line will be diverted to the fast line between Andheri/Goregaon and Borivli.
This infrastructural block is linked to the long-awaited extension of the sixth line between Bandra Terminus and Borivli. Officials revealed that WR is currently completing work on the final 3.7-kilometer stretch between Kandivli and Borivli. This crucial segment is likely to be ready before the end of the current financial year.
Engineering Work and Future Benefits
The connection work scheduled for the 30-day window is intensive. It involves critical tasks such as track slewing and insertion, along with the removal of multiple crossovers at both Kandivli and Borivli stations. Major engineering, signalling, and overhead equipment (OHE) works will also be carried out simultaneously.
A senior WR official explained that surface-level civil works are nearly finished. The necessary permissions for laying the OHE and signalling systems have been granted, a process estimated to take around 30 days. Once commissioned, the sixth line will significantly improve the punctuality of mail and express trains by easing congestion on the entire network, offering long-term benefits for Mumbai's rail commuters.
