The Central Railway (CR) on Thursday said that decongesting stations and speeding up local trains would be the priorities in Mumbai and that commuters can expect quite a few developments in 2024. Though the new general manager, Ram Karan Yadav, did not make any new announcements, the focus remained on safety, mobility improvements, passenger amenities and infrastructure work.

In the Mumbai division, additional focus is on measures against trespassing, decongestion of platforms, mobility improvements and safety. The idea is to speed up local trains in Mumbai on the harbour, trans-harbour and Khopoli lines. A presentation during the press conference stated that increasing the speed to 105 kmph in suburban sections is in progress. This includes the harbour line between Tilak Nagar and Panvel (33 km), the trans-harbour line (18 km) and the port line between Nerul-Kharkopar (9 km) where speed is to be increased from 80 kmph to 105 kmph. On the Karjat-Khopoli stretch (15 km), it is to be increased from 60 kmph to 90 kmph. This work is to be completed by March 2024.