Mumbai Local: Thane-Kalyan Stretch May Go Underground to Combat Congestion

• Central Railway is exploring underground sections for the upcoming 7th and 8th lines on the heavily congested Thane-Kalyan stretch of Mumbai Local.
• The 10.8-km Thane-Kalyan route is one of Mumbai's busiest, handling nearly 1,000 trains daily and connecting vital parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
• Limited surface space, particularly near Dombivli, makes underground construction a viable option to add new tracks and ease severe crowding.
• A third-party agency is conducting a Final Location Survey, expected to be completed by mid-2026, to determine the feasibility and placement of underground lines.
• This initiative is part of a broader plan to separate suburban and long-distance trains, expand Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, and develop Parel as a new terminal.

Why It Matters: Mumbai's Thane-Kalyan local train stretch may get underground lines to ease severe congestion.