To add to the current strength of air-conditioned local train services, Mumbai’s suburban railway network is set to get the first batch of additional AC local train rakes by 2027, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday (August 13, 2026).

““The Centre has decided to produce 238 new rakes in its three coach factories, where Vande Bharat trains are manufactured. All the rakes will be ready by 2029,” he said, speaking at the inauguration of several Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) projects, including Chembur Metro Station under Phase 1A of Metro Line 2B.

The factories where the rakes will be manufactured include the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, and Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Raebareli. Mr. Fadanvis said the aim is to provide “metro train-level smooth services on the suburban railway network”.

At the inaugural event, Mr. Fadnavis stated that all the projects are to provide Mumbaikars ease of travel and to save time. During the event, the elevated corridor from Bharat Nagar Road (University Campus) to Vakola Junction (SCLR-2), Chembur Metro Station under Phase 1A of Metro Line 2B, and TBM-2 on the Thane side of the Thane–Borivali twin-tunnel project was inaugurated.

Further, the flyover connecting G Block of the Bandra-Kurla Complex with the Eastern Express Highway was named as the “Senior Freedom Fighter and Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Barrister Babasaheb Anantrao Bhosale Flyover.”

Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR)

SCLR is a 10.88 km east-west corridor, connecting the Western Express Highway at Santacruz to the Eastern Express Highway to ease traffic at Sion and Kalanagar junctions in Central Mumbai. The last leg — the Bharat Nagar–Vakola link (SCLR Extension) opening and extension of Metro Line 2B to Chembur — would help decongest traffic at Vakola junction, plugging the gap between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and the Western Express Highway.

The 1.2 km Vakola–BKC elevated road, costing around ₹645 crore, connects several key intersections — Vakola Junction, Ambedkar Chowk, and University Junction.

“In 2018, it was decided that to decongest BKC, six links needed to be constructed. This is the last link, and now the traffic will slowly get decongested and regulated. We need to improve several bottlenecks on Western Highway landing, probably requiring an underpass,” Mr. Fadnavis said. This will help motorists to bypass congested stretches in Kalina, Vakola and Kalanagar.

Metro 2B

The Chembur station is the sixth station on the operational line 2B, providing an intersectional mode of transport services. The metro, suburban rail, and monorail are now available within walking distance. The 2B line will run between Mandale and DN Nagar, crossing through BKC.

“This year, 60-70 km of metro line will be made operational,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

The cost of the project was is ₹10,986 crore including State taxes, 7.5% p.a escalation and IDC.

TVM Arjuna launched

Twin Tube Tunnel of 11.85 km between Thane and Borivali under Sanjay Gandhi National Park will connect Western Express Highway at Borivali side and Thane Ghodbander Road at Thane side. The 10.25 km is tunnel and 1.60 km is approach road, with diameter of tunnel isbeing 13.3 m. (2 lanes + 1 emergency lane).

MMRDA aims to reduce the distance by 12 km and about an hour’s time between Borivali and Thane.

The administrative approval to project cost amounting to ₹16,600.40 crore has been awarded to Megha Engineering Infrastructures Ltd.

“This will set a record for the largest tunnel in the country. TVM Naik was launched two years ago; the second one, Arjuna is also launched, which will speed up the work,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

Published - August 14, 2026 10:55 am IST