Central Railway (CR) is set to revolutionise travel between Mumbai and Pune with the introduction of additional tracks, a move expected to reduce travel time by thirty minutes. This strategic upgrade aims to alleviate current congestion and enhance connectivity on one of India’s most critical rail corridors.
The proposed expansion will involve constructing two new tracks, which are set to circumvent the challenging terrain of the existing route. The new alignment will avoid the steep gradients of the current ghat section by incorporating multiple tunnels, a solution recently greenlit by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. This adjustment promises a smoother journey and a significant reduction in travel duration.
According to CR officials, the new tracks will be situated east of the existing ones, bypassing Lonavala and addressing the severe 1/37 gradient that currently demands more powerful locomotives. The redesigned route is expected to support train speeds of up to 110 km/h, thanks to the gentler gradients. This will not only expedite the journey but also enable the operation of additional trains on this busy corridor.
The official timeline for the project includes the completion of the Kalyan yard works and the operationalisation of new platforms at Panvel and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT). Once these developments are in place, CR anticipates a capacity increase of at least ten more trains on the Mumbai-Pune route. Currently, only two trains are equipped to navigate the existing ghat section: the Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat Express and the Mumbai Rajdhani Express, which requires engines at both ends to manage the steep gradients.
