Suburban commuters in Mumbai are bracing for disruptions as the Western Railway (WR) embarks on a series of mega blocks to facilitate the construction of a crucial 4.5-kilometer 6th line between Goregaon and Kandivali stations. These mega blocks, each lasting 10 hours, will be carried out on weekends from August 27th to October 6th, impacting both suburban and long-distance train services.
The WR has announced five mega blocks, strategically scheduled to minimize inconvenience to passengers during the 35-day period. However, the railway will suspend work from September 11th to 17th due to the Ganpati festival.
The construction of the 6th line necessitates the relocation of existing tracks, as there is limited space on the east side of Malad station. Consequently, all five existing lines will be shifted to the west side, a process that will involve cut and connection techniques.
Due to this extensive work, several long-distance trains will experience delays ranging from 15 to 20 minutes. Suburban services will also be affected, with an average of 100-140 services cancelled and approximately 40 services being short-terminated on weekends. To minimize disruptions on weekdays, the WR has planned the majority of the work during night hours. However, on September 28th-29th and October 5th-6th, non-interlocking work on the 5th line between Goregaon and Kandivali will cause delays of 40-45 minutes for trains originating from Bandra Terminus.
While the 5th line between Bandra Terminus is already operational, the 6th line currently extends only from Khar to Goregaon. This project aims to expand the 6th line from Goregaon to Kandivali. Upon completion, the 6th line will be further extended to Borivali, creating a dedicated corridor for long-distance trains and improving overall capacity. Commuters stand to benefit from reduced congestion, improved punctuality, and enhanced overall efficiency of the railway network.
