Double the Tracks, Triple the Speed: The Badlapur–Karjat Expansion

Indian Railways has sanctioned the quadrupling of the Badlapur–Karjat rail line under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-3B), following approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on December 30, 2025.

The project involves the construction of third and fourth rail lines over a 32.46-km stretch, covering six key suburban stations. It is aimed at enhancing capacity on the high-density Mumbai–Chennai rail corridor to meet growing passenger and freight demand, particularly in view of upcoming ports and logistics terminals in the region. The project will require approximately 37.79 hectares of land and is estimated to cost ₹1,324 crore. Funding will be shared equally between the Government of Maharashtra and the Ministry of Railways, with the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) responsible for project execution.

In addition, the CCEA has approved the development of a six-lane, access-controlled Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot corridor in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of ₹19,142 crore. Spanning 374 km, the highway will be developed under the build-operate-transfer (toll) model. The corridor is expected to improve regional and inter-state connectivity, reduce travel distance by 201 km, cut travel time by about 17 hours, and enhance logistics efficiency and freight movement.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.