Central Railway has announced a series of planned maintenance blocks at Karjat station through 10 October as part of its ongoing yard remodelling project. The exercise, which began last week, is expected to disrupt suburban train services on three key days, with officials urging passengers to prepare for cancellations, short terminations, and revised origins during block hours.
The temporary service suspension, officials explained, is linked to pre non-interlocking (PNI) works critical for upgrading the Karjat yard. The modernisation is designed to enhance operational safety and improve long-term efficiency on the busy suburban corridor. Authorities have emphasised that such maintenance blocks, though inconvenient in the short term, are vital to ensuring sustainable rail infrastructure and smoother connectivity in the future. On 3 October, the block will operate between 11.20 am and 6 pm, affecting train operations across the Bhivpuri–Jambrung Cabin–Thakurvadi–Nagnath Cabin–Karjat section. During this period, up and down suburban services between Neral and Karjat will remain suspended. Affected services include the 2.55 pm Khopoli–Karjat local, while CSMT–Karjat trains will be curtailed at Neral. Some Karjat-originating trains are scheduled to begin from Neral or Ambarnath.
The impact will extend further on 4 October, when blocks are scheduled from 11.20 am to 4.45 pm, and again on 10 October, between 11.20 am and 4.20 pm. Both days will affect services on the Karjat–Khopoli section. Several Karjat–Khopoli and Khopoli–Karjat suburban services stand cancelled, and a number of CSMT–Khopoli services will terminate at Karjat. Additionally, the 1.48 pm Khopoli–CSMT service will originate from Karjat instead. Despite these changes, Mail and Express trains are expected to operate without major disruption. A few long-distance trains may be diverted via the mid-line at Monkey Hill Cabin, but mainline operations will remain largely unaffected. Officials have assured passengers that services between 5 and 9 October will run as per the regular timetable, offering some respite to daily commuters.
The disruptions highlight the difficult balancing act facing Indian Railways—keeping pace with rising passenger demand while executing necessary upgrades on century-old infrastructure. Experts note that the Karjat yard remodelling will not only ease traffic bottlenecks but also contribute to safer and more reliable suburban services in the long run. Such upgrades are especially significant in the context of Mumbai’s expanding metropolitan footprint, where sustainable and efficient public transport is key to reducing dependence on private vehicles and cutting urban emissions. Central Railway has urged commuters to plan their journeys in advance, stay updated with revised schedules, and factor in delays. While temporary inconvenience is unavoidable, the project is viewed as an essential step towards building a safer, more resilient, and eco-friendly suburban railway network that aligns with the long-term vision of sustainable urban mobility.
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