Mumbai suburban rail expansion: Kurla–Parel 5th & 6th line project back on track after land push; what we know

The long-pending Central Railway 5th and 6th line project between Kurla and Parel is expected to gain momentum after rehabilitation of 714 eligible project-affected families, clearing a major hurdle for construction work. (FILE PHOTO)

The 17.5 km corridor from CSMT to Kurla was approved in 2008 under MUTP-II to separate suburban and long-distance train operations and reduce congestion on the busy route. (FILE PHOTO)

The project is designed to divide traffic between fast suburban trains and long-distance trains, improving punctuality and easing pressure on existing railway corridors. (FILE PHOTO)

The Kalyan–LTT section has six lines, while Kurla–CSMT has four lines carrying suburban services. The new lines aim to improve segregation of train movement. (FILE PHOTO)

Work on the 10 km Kurla–Parel stretch is ongoing, with fifth and sixth lines being laid specifically for separating suburban fast trains from long-distance services. (FILE PHOTO)

With land acquisition completed on January 20, demolition in the Swadeshi Mill, Kurla and Chunabhatti areas is expected to finish within a month, allowing faster execution of the project. (FILE PHOTO)

Phase 1 (Kurla–Parel) is about 35% complete with a target of 2027, while Phase 2 (Parel–CSMT) faces land hurdles. The total project cost is Rs 1,337 crore (FILE PHOTO)