Mumbai gets major rail relief as Kandivali–Borivali sixth line opens in 30 days

As Mumbai slept a crucial chapter in the cityrsquos longrunning railway expansion story quietly came to completion After a month of intense roundtheclock work Western Railway commissioned the sixth railway line between Kandivali and Borivali on Sunday evening completing the longawaited fifth and sixth lines between Bandra Terminus and Borivali The newly commissioned section is 3210 km long and marks the completion of Phase One of the sixth line project between Bandra Terminus and BorivaliWestern Railway staff and contract workers work close to live tracks during a scheduled jumbo block near Kandivali station for the sixth line project between Kandivali and Borivali PicSatej ShindeldquoOn January 18 Western Railway achieved a major infrastructure milestone with the successful commissioning of the 3210 kmlong sixth line between Kandivali at kilometre 30540 and Borivli at kilometre 33750rdquo a Western Railway spokesperson said ldquoWith the commissioning of the final leg between Kandivali and Borivali the first phase of the sixth line project between Mumbai Central and Borivali now stands completedrdquo spokesperson saidAccording to officials a 30day execution window was planned for the project running from December 18 2025 to January 17 2026 During this period the existing fifth line between Kandivali and Goregaon remained suspended to facilitate the work The commissioning involved extensive permanent way and structural engineering operationsWork done while city sleptThe project posed major logistical and spatial challenges as construction had to be carried out extremely close to the operational fifth line Limited space restricted the movement of machinery and materials As a result all earthwork and trackrelated activities were executed during night blocks and scheduled shutdowns to minimise disruption to daily train servicesWhat it means for peopleReduced congestion on existing lines The sixth line adds muchneeded track capacity on one of the worldrsquos busiest suburban rail corridors helping ease crowding between Bandra Terminus and BorivaliDedicated route for longdistance trainsOnce fully operational the new line will allow mail and express trains to run on a separate track reducing interference with suburban local servicesReliable and punctualSegregation of longdistance and suburban traffic will cut delays caused by mixed train movement improving schedule adherenceIncreased local servicesWith additional track capacity Railways can operate more suburban trains in the future Some estimates suggest an overall service increase of nearly 20 per cent once the infrastructure is fully utilisedImproved corridor capacityThe sixth line significantly enhances the overall carrying capacity of Western Railwayrsquos Mumbai suburban network especially on the Borivli to Virar stretchSmoother peakhour operationsSeparating train movements is expected to reduce peakhour congestion making daily travel less stressful for commutersProject was completed in stagesNovember 2023 Khar to Goregaon 88 kmOctober 2024 Goregaon to Kandivli 454 kmJanuary 2026 Kandivli to Borivli 32 kmWindow of actionDuring the 30day execution window from December 18 2025 to January 17 2026 the following work was carried outTrack infrastructure Multiple cuts and connections at Kandivali and Borivali involving major slewing of the 5th line insertion and dismantling of multiple points and crossings and installation of 13 switch expansion jointsBridge works A 36hour major traffic block was successfully utilised at bridge no 61 for critical regirdering works on this section which comprises four minor and one major bridgesLand management Private land was acquired at Borivali removing the final physical constraint to the 6th linersquos alignment The project faced spatial challenges due to its proximity to the 5th lineA Benchmark Achievement The commissioning of the 6th Line provides a dedicated corridor for longdistance and nonsuburban traffic This tactical separation significantly reduces congestion improves punctuality and enhances the daily commuting experience for millions