New Panvel-Karjat railway line set to ease commuting in Mumbai

18 Sep 2023 CW Team

The new railway line promises to bring substantial benefits to passengers by reducing the distance between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Karjat. Along this route, five stations are currently under construction, namely Panvel, Mahape, Chikle, Chowk, and Karjat. The entire railway line spans 30 km and encompasses three tunnels, two rail flyovers, 44 major and minor bridges, 15 road-under bridges, and seven road-over bridges.

Upon the completion of this project, congestion between Thane and Kalyan stations is expected to decrease significantly, potentially leading to a reduction in overcrowding issues.

The estimated cost of MUTP-3 is Rs 109.47 billion, with project approval dating back to 2016. It is anticipated that this route will become accessible to passengers by March 2025.

Construction of the Waverley tunnel began in February, and significant progress has already been made, with one section of the tunnel already drilled.

The three tunnels in progress, namely the Waverly tunnel (2.6 km), Kirawali tunnel (300 m), and Nadhal tunnel (219 m), are vital components of the 3,144-meter-long railway line. Digging the Waverley tunnel, in particular, presents challenges due to its proximity to the existing Panvel-Karjat single line tunnel, requiring adherence to stringent safety measures. These tunnels will feature ballast-less tracks, ample public refuge areas, as well as tunnel control, lighting, and ventilation systems.

The construction work includes waterproofing and corrosion protection measures. A total of 56.87 hectares of private land, 4.4 hectares of government land, and 9.13 hectares of forest department land have been allocated for this railway line. Land acquisition has taken place in areas such as Barwai, Wavarle, Belwali, Bhingar, Lodhiwali, Kirwali, and Wanjale.

The Panvel-Karjat rail line will add another suburban rail corridor to Mumbai's transportation network, connecting Navi Mumbai with the Raigad district of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Notably, the public is yet to gain full access to the fourth corridor on the Nerul/Belapur-Kharkopar-Uran line, which was completed in November 2018.

This new route is part of the railway's initiative to improve access to underserved areas in the MMR. It will facilitate local train travel between Mumbai and Karjat via Panvel and is expected to spur growth in the rapidly expanding cities of Panvel, Karjat, and the projected Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area.

Passengers travelling between Panvel and Karjat will soon experience greater convenience, thanks to the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-3). This project involves the construction of a 29.6 km long corridor, set to alleviate the commuting challenges for residents in the vicinity of Mumbai. A significant feature of this railway line is the construction of the Waverley tunnel, which will be the longest tunnel on the Mumbai Suburban Railway line.The new railway line promises to bring substantial benefits to passengers by reducing the distance between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Karjat. Along this route, five stations are currently under construction, namely Panvel, Mahape, Chikle, Chowk, and Karjat. The entire railway line spans 30 km and encompasses three tunnels, two rail flyovers, 44 major and minor bridges, 15 road-under bridges, and seven road-over bridges.Upon the completion of this project, congestion between Thane and Kalyan stations is expected to decrease significantly, potentially leading to a reduction in overcrowding issues.The estimated cost of MUTP-3 is Rs 109.47 billion, with project approval dating back to 2016. It is anticipated that this route will become accessible to passengers by March 2025.Construction of the Waverley tunnel began in February, and significant progress has already been made, with one section of the tunnel already drilled.The three tunnels in progress, namely the Waverly tunnel (2.6 km), Kirawali tunnel (300 m), and Nadhal tunnel (219 m), are vital components of the 3,144-meter-long railway line. Digging the Waverley tunnel, in particular, presents challenges due to its proximity to the existing Panvel-Karjat single line tunnel, requiring adherence to stringent safety measures. These tunnels will feature ballast-less tracks, ample public refuge areas, as well as tunnel control, lighting, and ventilation systems.The construction work includes waterproofing and corrosion protection measures. A total of 56.87 hectares of private land, 4.4 hectares of government land, and 9.13 hectares of forest department land have been allocated for this railway line. Land acquisition has taken place in areas such as Barwai, Wavarle, Belwali, Bhingar, Lodhiwali, Kirwali, and Wanjale.The Panvel-Karjat rail line will add another suburban rail corridor to Mumbai's transportation network, connecting Navi Mumbai with the Raigad district of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Notably, the public is yet to gain full access to the fourth corridor on the Nerul/Belapur-Kharkopar-Uran line, which was completed in November 2018.This new route is part of the railway's initiative to improve access to underserved areas in the MMR. It will facilitate local train travel between Mumbai and Karjat via Panvel and is expected to spur growth in the rapidly expanding cities of Panvel, Karjat, and the projected Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area.

Real Estate

04 Aug 2026

LML Realty Launches Cinema Campaign on Industrial Vision

LML Realty has launched a cinema advertising campaign in partnership with PVR INOX across 81 screens in Gurugram and Faridabad, showcasing the brand’s transformation from a mobility icon to an industrial infrastructure developer.The campaign features a cinematic brand film tracing LML’s journey since 1972, beginning with its iconic scooters and highlighting its evolution into creating infrastructure solutions that support India’s manufacturing growth.The film focuses on LML Industrial Park at Jhirka Valley, the company’s flagship industrial development approved under the Haryana Govern..

Real Estate

04 Aug 2026

IIM Ahmedabad Publishes Case Study on HoABL’s Business Model

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has published a case study on The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), examining the company’s digital-first consumer journey and business model that created India’s branded land category.Titled “HoABL: Ready for Scaling Up”, the case study has been published by the IIMA Case Centre and co-authored by Sourav Borah, Associate Professor of Marketing at IIMA, and Dr Aparna Kansal of IMT Ghaziabad. IIMA case studies are used across management and executive education programmes to help students and business leaders analyse strategic decision..

Infrastructure Energy

04 Aug 2026

Advait Energy and MEIL Partner for Energy Transition Projects

Advait Energy Transitions Limited (AETL) and Manipal Energy Infratech Limited (MEIL), a company of The Manipal Group, have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on power and energy transition opportunities across India and international markets.The partnership aims to combine AETL’s expertise in innovative energy technologies and manufacturing with MEIL’s EPC execution capabilities and project management experience. The collaboration will focus on opportunities across Power Transmission & Distribution, Renewable Energy, Battery Energy Storage Systems..