Mumbai, January 10: Commuters on the Western Railway (WR) network face significant travel disruptions this week as the railway authority announced the cancellation of 120 suburban services each on Monday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 13. The massive block is necessitated by ongoing construction for the sixth line between Kandivali and Borivali stations. While the infrastructure project aims to segregate suburban and long-distance traffic in the long term, the immediate impact will see reduced frequency and potential overcrowding on the city’s busiest transit corridor.

Scale of the Disruptions

The disruption follows a series of night blocks and weekend shifts as Western Railway nears the completion of the 4.5-km stretch between Kandivali and Borivali. According to official notifications, a total of 240 services will be cancelled over the two days. Indian Railways Boosts Low-Cost Travel With Record Production of General and Non-AC Coaches Equipped With Modern Passenger-Friendly Facilities.

To mitigate the impact, several "Fast" line trains will be diverted to the "Slow" tracks, and some services will be short-terminated at Andheri, Bhayandar, or Vasai Road. Railway officials have warned that while these measures are in place, the remaining operational trains are likely to be more crowded than usual during peak hours.

Project Goals: The Sixth Line

The construction of the sixth line is a critical part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). Currently, the fifth and sixth lines are being developed to create a dedicated corridor for long-distance mail and express trains.

Once fully operational, this segregation will allow Western Railway to:

  • Increase the frequency of local "Slow" and "Fast" suburban services.

  • Reduce delays caused by the crossover of long-distance trains onto suburban tracks.

  • Improve overall punctuality across the Churchgate-Virar section.

Administrative Response and Commuter Safety

Western Railway has deployed additional Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and station staff at major hubs like Borivali, Malad, and Kandivali to manage the crowds. Help desks have been set up to guide passengers regarding platform changes and revised timings.

"We request passengers to plan their journeys in advance and, if possible, avoid non-essential travel during the peak morning and evening windows," a Western Railway spokesperson stated. The authority also noted that extra bus services have been requested from BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) to assist commuters on the affected route. iPad Lost on Dakshin Express Train Recovered With Help of RailMadad App, Owner Thanks Indian Railways.

Background and Future Outlook

The Borivali-Kandivali section is one of the most congested bottlenecks on the Western Line. The current phase of work involves significant "cut-and-connect" operations, shifting of existing tracks, and the installation of new signalling systems.

While the two-day block represents a peak in construction activity, Western Railway expects to commission the new line shortly after the successful completion of these technical tests. This project is expected to provide much-needed relief to the approximately 3.5 million daily commuters who rely on the Western suburban network.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2026 04:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).