38 major rail projects, 238 new suburban rakes and a record budget push transform capacity, speed and safety across Maharashtra.
In a massive infrastructure push, the Indian Railways has sanctioned 38 rail projects spanning 5,098 km and costing ₹89,780 crore in Maharashtra as of 20 December 2025. These include 11 new lines, 2 gauge conversions and 25 doubling projects, aimed at transforming long-haul and suburban mobility across the state.
Over the last five years, Maharashtra has seen a dramatic surge in central budget support. The state’s rail outlay has jumped from ₹1,171 crore per year (2009-14) to ₹23,778 crore in 2025-26, a rise of over 20 times. New track commissioning has also leapt from 58.4 km per year (2009-14) to 208.36 km per year (2014-25), more than three times faster.
Mumbai, one of the world’s busiest suburban rail networks, currently handles 120 mail/express trains and around 3,200 suburban trains daily. To ease congestion and improve safety, Indian Railways has upgraded and expanded key stations, including Bandra Terminus, Mumbai Central, Dadar, Jogeshwari, Vasai Road, Kalyan, LTT, Parel, Panvel-Kalamboli, Virar, Dahanu Rd, Mira Rd and more. Platform extensions at 34 suburban stations to support 15-car trains are also underway.
The push continues through the Mumbai Urban Transport Projects, MUTP-II (₹8,087 crore), MUTP-III (₹10,947 crore) and MUTP-IIIA (₹33,690 crore), covering major works like the fifth and sixth lines, suburban corridors, yard remodelling and route expansions. To boost capacity further, 238 new 12-car suburban rakes with automatic doors, costing ₹19,293 crore, have been approved under MUTP-III and IIIA, with procurement now progressing.
Several large-format projects have already been completed in the state, including the Pune–Miraj–Londa doubling (467 km), Jabalpur–Gondia and Chhindwara–Nagpur gauge conversions, and key line expansions between Manmad–Jalgaon, Panvel–Roha, Udhna–Jalgaon, and Mudkhed–Parbhani.
Meanwhile, construction has picked up on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train, with 100% land acquired in Maharashtra and major works advancing. The state also holds 178 km of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, improving direct cargo and container connectivity from JNPT to Delhi NCR.
In addition, between 2022-23 and 2025-26, Indian Railways has sanctioned 98 survey projects across Maharashtra, covering 8,603 km of new line, gauge conversion and doubling proposals, setting the stage for the state’s next wave of rail growth.
For Maharashtra, this is more than infrastructure; it is a transformation of mobility, logistics strength, passenger comfort and economic reach, placing the state firmly at the heart of India’s railway expansion story.
Source: PIB
