Western Railway Initiates Feasibility Study for Churchgate–Mumbai Central Underground Rail Tunnel with Potential Extension to Prabhadevi

Western Railway has launched a feasibility study for constructing an underground rail tunnel between Churchgate and Mumbai Central. This initiative follows approval from the Railway Board to explore the proposed link as a long-term solution to increase rail capacity in South Mumbai, where land scarcity and acquisition challenges limit the addition of surface tracks.

The study will include a Final Location Survey (FLS) to assess the tunnel’s technical viability, determine the route alignment, and evaluate future requirements. Depending on survey outcomes, the tunnel could be extended further to Prabhadevi.

This underground connection is also being considered as an alternative to the planned sixth railway line between Mumbai Central and Mahim, where progress has stalled due to legal and land-related issues. While elevated tracks are cheaper, tunneling is viewed as a practical option for densely developed urban areas where acquiring land is costly and time-consuming.

The proposal coincides with ongoing work on the fifth and sixth rail lines between Mumbai Central and Mahim. The fifth line is nearly complete, but the sixth remains delayed. Central Railway is exploring a similar underground rail link between Parel and CSMT for related reasons.

In related developments, infrastructure upgrades on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Delhi corridor are nearing completion. These upgrades include the installation of Kavach signalling technology and civil engineering improvements to support train speeds of up to 160 kmph.

Remaining bridge and track works are expected to be finished by the end of 2026. After testing, this enhancement aims to reduce Mumbai-Delhi train travel time to nearly 12 hours starting in 2027.