Mumbai’s First Underground Railway Line Planned from Parel to CSMT at ₹3,000 Crore: A Game-Changer for City Transit
Mumbai is preparing for a transformative leap in urban transport infrastructure, as Central Railway (CR) proposes the city’s first underground railway line, spanning 7.4 km between Parel and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). If greenlit, this route will mark a major milestone in the city’s suburban rail network, mirroring the success of Mumbai Metro Line 3 — the city’s first underground metro.
The proposed underground rail section forms Phase 2 of a broader plan to expand the Central Railway’s fifth and sixth corridors along the Kurla–Parel–CSMT stretch. While Phase 1 (Kurla to Parel) covering 10.1 km is already in progress, Phase 2 aims to mitigate significant challenges related to land acquisition and rehabilitation by tunnelling beneath the city.
“This route will allow us to avoid surface-level land acquisition, which is a major hurdle in urban infrastructure development,” a senior railway official stated. “We are still conducting feasibility studies and will appoint a consultant soon.”
The proposed underground section will lie approximately 20–25 metres below the existing rail tracks, effectively navigating beneath buildings, roads, and essential utilities — all of which pose logistical challenges to conventional overland construction.
Currently, the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) and CR are in early discussions to evaluate the feasibility and execution model for the project. Once technical studies conclude, a decision will be made regarding the executing agency and final alignment.
At the CSMT end, two potential entry/exit points for tunnel boring machines are under consideration. One is located within the terminus, adjacent to the existing suburban or long-distance platforms. The other option is near the P D’Mello Road side of CSMT, although this location introduces additional complexities due to the presence of Metro 3’s underground station and the upcoming Metro 11 alignment from Wadala to CSMT.
If approved, the total project cost for both phases is estimated at ₹3,000 crore — nearly triple the original budget. Initially sanctioned in 2008 at ₹890.89 crore, the cost was later revised to ₹1,337 crore for the overland version. The shift to an underground alignment significantly increases costs but could offer smoother execution and long-term benefits.
The ambitious project underscores a significant step toward modernizing Mumbai’s aging rail infrastructure while alleviating congestion on existing suburban routes. As technical studies unfold, Mumbaikars await what could be a game-changing development in the city’s transit evolution.
