Passenger Woes Persist as Kurla Elevated Line Deadline Extended to 2025
To ease passenger congestion and improve travel speed on the Harbour Line, Central Railway (CR) is constructing an elevated railway line between Chunabhatti and Tilaknagar. However, the project has faced significant delays, with its completion deadline now extended to 31 December 2025, as revealed in a Right to Information (RTI) inquiry.
The project, valued at ₹89.26 crore, is being executed by contractor M/s Walecha RE Infra (JV). So far, ₹62.65 crore has been paid to the contractor, yet the progress has been slow, with no penalties imposed for the delays. The revelation has sparked criticism, particularly from RTI activist Anil Galgali, who questioned the lack of accountability in a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Central Railway General Manager. “The delay is causing unnecessary hardship for passengers. Without timely completion, project costs could escalate further, adding to the burden,” Galgali stated. He called for stricter monitoring and action against those responsible for the lag. The Kurla Elevated Harbour Line, stretching 1.1 kilometres, is being constructed to ease the load on platforms 7 and 8 at Kurla station, which currently manage Harbour Line locals operating between CSMT and Vashi, Belapur, and Panvel.
The elevated route will end at Kasaiwada near the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road and will feature three platforms, a pedestrian bridge, and a skywalk. Additional amenities such as shops, food stalls, and waiting spaces are also planned. This project aims to address bottlenecks caused by mail, express, and goods trains sharing the tracks with local trains. By elevating the line, the frequency and speed of Harbour Line locals are expected to improve, significantly enhancing commuter convenience. Despite its importance, the delays in project execution are raising concerns. Prolonged timelines often lead to inflated costs, impacting the overall efficiency of infrastructure development. The Central Railway administration has been urged to expedite work to meet the revised deadline and avoid further inconvenience to the lakhs of passengers who rely on the Harbour Line daily.
