Mumbai’s railway infrastructure is set for a boost as Western Railway (WR) plans to revive two underused land parcels in the city to create additional coaching, maintenance and stabling facilities for long-distance trains. Read on to know more.
A 1890s Forgotten Rail Land To Transform Mumbai Trains
One site is an erstwhile parcel depot at Grant Road, built in 1890 during the British era. Spread across about 0.9 hectares, the depot handled goods trains until the early 1990s. The facility once had two terminal platforms for inward and outward traffic, with around six to eight goods trains operating daily. The trains carried commodities such as perfumes, betel leaves, fruits, dry fruits, clothes and other merchandise. Much of the material was supplied to markets in South Mumbai, including Crawford Market, Manish Market and Lamington Road, while export consignments were transported to the Mumbai port.
The site is now dilapidated, with a few railway offices operating from ageing buildings. An abandoned linen washing plant, residential quarters and remnants of the old goods-handling infrastructure also remain. WR plans to clear the existing tracks and structures and construct 10 new stabling lines. The project will also include new signalling, lighting and overhead equipment, along with a ground-plus-six-storey building. A maintenance depot, pit lines for coach washing and other allied facilities are also proposed.
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The Redevelopment To Expand Long-Distance Rail Service
The redevelopment is expected to provide WR with additional space to park, inspect and maintain train rakes, helping the railway zone expand long-distance services. A second facility is planned on a railway plot between Currey Road and Lower Parel stations. The land, currently belonging to Central Railway (CR), will be transferred to WR.
The site is considered crucial for expanding pit-line capacity, as Dadar has no room for new pit lines and Mumbai Central has limited scope for expansion. The proposed facility will have two 600-metre-long pit lines, six crossovers, new signals, overhead equipment and lighting modifications. A ground-plus-three-storey maintenance office is also planned.
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The facility, located around 2 km from Mumbai Central and 2.5 km from Dadar, will support primary coach maintenance for trains operating from both stations. According to railway officials, the two projects could help WR add around 10-15 long-distance trains to its network while easing the shortage of parking and maintenance infrastructure in Mumbai.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
FAQs
What is Grant Road famous for?
Grant Road in South Mumbai is famous for its historic railway station, vibrant street markets, iconic Irani cafés, and proximity to major cultural and commercial landmarks.