Mumbai: Central Railway Sidelines Blueprint To Triple Suburban Train Services, Despite Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Praising Sector-Based Plan

**Mumbai’s Suburban Railway High-Frequency Train Proposal Remains Shelved Despite Ministerial Approval**

A proposal that could revolutionise Mumbai’s suburban railway by running trains every three minutes—even at crowded stations such as Kalwa and Badlapur—remains shelved, despite being cleared in principle by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

### High-Frequency Train Proposal Ignored by Central Railway

The ambitious plan, presented to Minister Vaishnaw last year and praised for its scope, has not been taken forward by the Central Railway (CR). Notably, it was absent from the set of solutions CR submitted to the Bombay High Court earlier this year during hearings on crowding and accidents on suburban trains. This omission has raised eyebrows, especially in the wake of the tragic Mumbra incident.

### Blueprint Inspired by Global Metro Systems

Drawing inspiration from global metro systems, the blueprint calls for sector-based operations by dividing the suburban network into eight corridors:

– CSMT-Thane (slow)
– Thane-Kalyan (slow)
– Kalyan-Kasara (slow)
– CSMT-Kalyan (fast)
– CSMT-Panvel (slow)
– Belapur-Uran (slow)
– Thane-Nerul/Vashi (slow)
– And others

With the existing infrastructure, the plan claims it could triple the number of services immediately—boosting the daily train count to over 5,000 from the current 1,810, which Central Railway often struggles to operate in full.

### Passenger Interchanges and Technical Details

A key feature of the proposal is passenger interchanges at major hubs like Thane and Kalyan. The technical aspects of these operations have already been worked out, making the plan a potential gamechanger for the country’s busiest suburban railway network.

### Ambitious Plan Sparks Debate

Despite its promise of higher frequency and streamlined services, the proposal has sparked a sharp debate. While railway officials highlight its potential benefits, many commuters and insiders question its practicality. Concerns have been raised about possible disruptions and inconveniences due to mandatory transhipments between trains.

### Current Status: Endorsed but Sidelined

For now, the ambitious plan remains in cold storage—endorsed by the Railway Minister but sidelined by the railway system itself.

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https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-central-railway-sidelines-blueprint-to-triple-suburban-train-services-despite-railway-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-praising-sector-based-plan

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