Western Railway weighs underground suburban network between Churchgate and Virar

Western Railway is considering an underground suburban network between Churchgate and Virar. The proposal has not yet reached even the feasibility study stage, as the construction department is waiting for funding approval from the Railway Board.

The proposal is based on a letter dated March 3, 2026, which sought proposals for a concept for an underground suburban network between Churchgate and Virar and for a feasibility study (FLS). The matter is said to have been raised during the Railway Minister's visit to Ahmedabad.

The first thing to be examined is whether such a network can be built at all, before moving to detailed planning and implementation. A senior railway official said, "Once funding is approved, we will start the feasibility study. If the project is found viable, a detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared."

The proposal is still at an early stage. No timeframe has been announced for the study or for construction.

The scheme has been put forward in view of the heavy suburban traffic on Western Railway, which currently runs 1,414 trains every day. A large number of passengers travel on Mumbai's suburban rail network, so the prospect of an underground connection raises issues such as increasing capacity, availability of land, construction cost and integrating the new infrastructure with the existing rail system.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is also examining underground suburban connectivity on two corridors through an agency called PADECO. The two corridors are Churchgate-Virar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Parel.

That study is under way and its report has not been submitted. According to a senior official, MRVC and the concerned body recently held a meeting to discuss the work, in which the corporation asked the consultant for more details. The results of the study may take some time to come.

The two initiatives are separate. Their progress will depend on the completion of the respective studies and their feasibility assessments. Western Railway is thus waiting for funding to begin its proposed feasibility study for the Churchgate-Virar corridor, while MRVC is carrying out its own assessment of the underground connection.