Underground Local Train Project: To tackle the intense daily congestion on Mumbai’s vital local trains, the Western Railway has launched an exciting new initiative. This project is being considered for creating an underground suburban local train network connecting Churchgate and Virar. To move forward, the construction team is currently waiting for the Railway Board to approve funding for a feasibility study.
With limited opportunities for expanding rail infrastructure above ground in Mumbai and facing substantial passenger demand, the Railways is now looking into an underground solution. In response, the Western Railway has put forward a proposal for a completely underground suburban rail network stretching from Churchgate to Virar. The project got its start when a letter was issued in March 2026, outlining plans for an underground suburban network on this route along with a feasibility study. Following this, the Railway Minister discussed the project’s framework in detail during a visit.
The feasibility study will kick off once the Railway Board releases the necessary funds
A senior Western Railway official, sharing updates on where things stand, explained that the initial phase involves determining whether building an underground network from Virar to Churchgate is practically feasible. The construction department will launch the feasibility study as soon as it receives funding from the Railway Board. Should the feasibility study confirm the project is both technically sound and financially viable, a comprehensive project report will be developed. Right now, the project is still in its early phases, so there’s no official timeline available yet for when the study will wrap up or when construction might begin.
What are the main challenges facing Mumbai local trains?
Western Railway currently operates approximately 1,414 suburban train services daily on this route. Developing a new underground rail corridor requires assessing several technical challenges, as digging underground tunnels and building stations beneath a dense urban area would require significant budgetary expenditure. Furthermore, sufficient ground space would be required for entry-exit points and station facilities. The new underground line would need to be properly integrated with the existing overhead tracks and the Mumbai Metro network.
MRVC is also conducting a separate study
In addition to Western Railway, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation is also commissioning an international agency to study underground connectivity for two different underground corridors, namely Churchgate-Virar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to Parel. The final picture will be clear only after the report is released.