The 29.6-km Panvel-Karjat suburban railway line has reached 99% completion, but local train services will begin only after final technical tests and approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), according to a report by Loksatta citing the project status of the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
The double-line project is being developed under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3 (MUTP 3) at an estimated cost of Rs 2,782 crore. MRVC has set a target to complete the project by December 2026. Passenger services, however, will depend on the completion of inspections and the CRS clearance process. The report indicates that services are expected to be prepared for operation by January 2028 after the required approvals.
The route is intended to provide an alternative suburban rail connection between Panvel and Karjat, improving access between Navi Mumbai and the Karjat region. At present, passengers travelling between the two areas do not have a direct suburban rail connection and spend additional time on their journeys. The new line is expected to reduce travel time once passenger operations begin.
The line will include five stations: Panvel, Chikhle, Poyanje, Chowk and Karjat. The station previously known as Mohape has been renamed Poyanje. The new Panvel station is already operational, while the station buildings at Chikhle and Poyanje have been completed.
The project includes three tunnels with a combined length of 3.164 km. The 2.625-km Vavarle tunnel will become the longest tunnel in Mumbai’s suburban railway network, according to the report. The route passes through hilly terrain, requiring specialised engineering methods. Excavation and final-level work inside the tunnels have been completed.
The corridor also includes major and minor bridges, five flyovers and 16 underpasses. Work on the flyovers, smaller bridges and underpasses is in its final phase. The rail connection through the underpass beneath the Pune Expressway has also been completed.
Passenger facility work remains under way at the Chowk and Karjat stations. This includes platforms, circulating areas, covered platform structures, lifts, escalators and other amenities. These works, along with the remaining infrastructure and technical testing, will determine when the line can be submitted for safety approval.
The project’s completion will add a new suburban rail link to the rapidly urbanising belt between Navi Mumbai, Panvel and Karjat. The immediate operational milestone is the completion of the remaining works, followed by final technical testing and CRS approval before local services can be introduced.
