Indian Railways has sanctioned the procurement of 238 air-conditioned (AC) local trains under two phases of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). The initiative, aimed at easing commuter load and modernising rail services, revives a long-delayed proposal with a combined budget exceeding Rs 19,000 crore.
The ambitious order falls under the MUTP-3 and MUTP-3A programmes, with 47 AC locals approved under the former and 191 under the latter. Railway officials confirmed that tenders, initially floated in 2023 and then inexplicably withdrawn, will soon be reissued after ironing out pricing concerns and technical challenges. The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), responsible for the implementation, is expected to initiate the tendering process in the coming months. This development promises a substantial upgrade for Mumbai’s suburban commuters, particularly as passenger density continues to rise. Presently, Western Railway operates 109 AC services daily, carrying over 1.25 lakh commuters, while Central Railway runs 80 services that serve nearly 79,000 passengers. However, capacity constraints and overcrowding during peak hours remain major concerns. The planned addition of 238 AC trains, along with the conversion of existing 12-coach trains into 15-coach rakes, is expected to significantly improve overall service efficiency.
To further bolster commuter safety, Indian Railways has also commenced the development of automatic door systems for non-AC locals. The Integral Coach Factory in Chennai is spearheading this technology upgrade, with two prototypes slated for rollout by December 2025. Once implemented, the system is expected to enhance safety during boarding and deboarding, reduce trackside accidents, and bring local trains up to global standards in terms of operational safety. The AC train procurement aligns with a broader vision to make urban public transport more sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient. The push for increased AC services can help lower vehicular congestion and emissions by making suburban rail a more attractive alternative to private transport. Additionally, infrastructure experts argue that a robust suburban rail network is crucial to a carbon-neutral mobility roadmap for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
With the approvals now in place and technical delays addressed, railway authorities have assured that the project is on track for completion by 2025. The simultaneous push for automatic door systems also signals a shift towards international-grade safety and passenger comfort on India’s most crowded suburban network. As Mumbai inches closer to a next-generation urban transit system, the success of these initiatives could set a benchmark for other metro cities facing similar challenges of scale, safety, and sustainability.
Also Read : Mumbai to Receive 238 New AC Local Trains by 2025
