Mumbai local trains' frequency to increase to just 2 minutes
What's the story
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced plans to revamp Mumbai's suburban railway network with new-design trains.
The trains will offer better passenger comfort and less overcrowding.
The existing gap between local trains, which is 180 seconds, will be decreased to 150 seconds initially and then to 120 seconds.
This will allow more services to be operated and reduce congestion.
Infrastructure investment
₹16,400 crore railway projects underway for Mumbai
Vaishnaw also revealed that railway projects worth ₹16,400 crore are already underway for Mumbai on both Central and Western Railways.
These initiatives will significantly improve the city's suburban rail network.
Once these infrastructure projects are completed, nearly 10% more local train services will be introduced in phases. This means around 300 additional services, further easing passenger congestion.
Expansion plans
New tracks and record budget allocation for Maharashtra railways
The minister also emphasized plans to lay "almost 300km of new tracks in the city." This expansion is part of a larger plan to upgrade Mumbai's suburban rail network.
A record ₹23,778 crore has also been allocated for railways in Maharashtra in the Union Budget 2025-26. This is a major jump from previous budgets under the UPA governments.
Passenger comfort
New trains to feature enhanced ventilation and suspension
The new trains will also feature better amenities such as improved ventilation systems and better suspension for passenger comfort.
Vaishnaw said that plans are afoot to introduce HVAC technology similar to that used in Vande Bharat trains, which offers 99.99% bacteria-free oxygen.
This is part of the government's commitment to enhancing passenger experience on Mumbai's suburban rail network.
Infrastructure upgrade
Procurement of 238 air-conditioned rakes for suburban services
The purchase of 238 AC rakes for suburban services falls under phase 3 and 3A of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). However, this has been delayed due to political opposition.
Under MUTP, around 301km of new railway lines are being laid, with several lines at different stages of completion.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Suburban Rail Passenger Associations President Nandkumar Deshmukh stressed on completing ongoing projects before reducing train intervals.