Mumbai: Western Railway has begun the process of operating the sixth line between Khar and Goregaon, which will ensure the separation of mail/express trains and suburban trains. This work, which started from October 7, has already resulted in the cancellation of two trains and the delay of 10 trains. However, the block will be more severe from October 25 to November 7, i.e. for 10 days, as the main work will be done after Dussehra.
According to the plan, the last 24-hour block on the fifth line and siding lines is scheduled for November 6 and 7. During this period, an average of 250 local and 61 mail-express trains will be canceled daily, affecting the passengers traveling by Western Railway. The block will also affect platform number 9 of Andheri station, which will remain suspended from October 20 to November 7.
Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, said that they have tried their best to minimize the impact of the project on the services and the people. He also said that the project is expected to be completed by November 7.
The sixth line project, which was estimated at Rs 430 crore in 2008, has now reached Rs 930 crore due to delays and cost overruns. The main reasons behind these failures were encroachment along the tracks and challenges in land acquisition. However, about 95 percent of the work for the Mumbai Central-Borivali sixth line project has already been completed and the work is progressing rapidly.
The sixth line will play an important role in improving the efficiency and safety of Western Railway. Currently, there are four lines between Mumbai Central and Borivali, out of which two are used for slow-speed trains and two are used for high-speed trains. The fifth line is called the Suburban Train Avoidance Line, which is a bi-directional line used by long-distance trains from Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus. The sixth line will provide a dedicated corridor for mail/express trains and reduce congestion on the other lines. A crossover will be provided from fifth to sixth line at Ram Mandir station, which will help in rerouting trains during any disruption in sixth line services.
Here is some information about the sixth line project:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 18 km |
| Stations covered | Khar Road, Santacruz, Vile Parle, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Ram Mandir and Goregaon |
| Expected completion date | November 7, 2023 |
| Expected benefits | Reduced travel time, improved punctuality, enhanced safety and increased capacity |
