Govt issues order releasing 9.1321 ha forest land for Panvel-Karjat double rail line

The Panvel-Karjat suburban rail project has moved a significant step forward. The state government issued a government order on 30 October under which 9.1321 hectares of forest land in Raigad district will be diverted for the Panvel-Karjat double railway line. The route is seen as important in changing rail travel in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and people have been waiting for it for a long time.

The Centre gave final approval to the proposal on 11 November 2025, after which the state government issued the order. Earlier, the Nagpur regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had given in-principle approval on 30 May 2022. Final approval came in November 2025 after the necessary conditions were met.

The land lies in eight villages across three talukas. Forest land will be taken in Belavali, Bhingar, Barvai and Bherle villages in Panvel taluka, Lodhivali and Vavarle villages in Khalapur taluka, and Kirvali and Vanjale villages in Karjat taluka. It will be used for the double-line work of Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited.

Under Mumbai Urban Transport Project-3 (MUTP-3), the corporation is building this 29.6-km double line. A cost of Rs 2,782 crore has been sanctioned for the project. Once the work is complete, the route will be handed over to Central Railway. The plan is to begin with 40 to 50 ordinary local services a day, and to consider introducing AC locals later depending on passenger response and demand.

Sunil Udasi, chief manager, corporate coordination, at MRVC, said most of the project's work has been completed. The current status is as follows:

Nine major bridges and 35 minor bridges are complete. Five flyovers and 16 underpasses are also ready. The railway flyovers at Panvel and Karjat are complete. Of the 69.70 km of track planned, 68.70 km has been laid. Panvel, Mohope and Chikhale stations are in service, while the station building and underpass at Chowk are complete. Ninety-five per cent of the signalling work is done. Excavation, internal lining and track work inside all three tunnels are also complete.

The project's main aim is to ease congestion on the existing routes between Panvel and Karjat. Once the new route opens, commuters from Badlapur and Ambernath will be able to travel directly to Panvel by local train without detouring via Thane station. Commuters in Navi Mumbai, Karjat and the Raigad area will get a cheaper and faster alternative to road travel. The reach of suburban rail services in the Greater Mumbai region will also widen.

With the forest land order issued, an important administrative step for the project has been completed. The plan is to finish the remaining work and open the route to passengers with 40 to 50 local services by the end of the year. Rail commuters in Panvel, Navi Mumbai, Karjat and Raigad are therefore expected to see their wait end soon.