Mumbai Plans First Underground Rail Line Worth $360 Million

Mumbai is preparing to launch its first underground rail line, with a proposed 7.4-kilometer tunnel connecting Parel and CSMT, as part of a $360 million infrastructure initiative. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Central Railway aims to expand its fifth and sixth corridors by tunneling under South Mumbai, following the example of Metro Line 3, the city’s first underground metro route.

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This underground stretch represents Phase 2 of the project, while Phase 1—from Kurla to Parel—is already in progress and covers 10.1 kilometers.

Tunneling was chosen to bypass costly land acquisition and avoid the complex rehabilitation of displaced residents, which often delays overground infrastructure projects in Mumbai.

Technical Feasibility Underway for Mumbai Tunnel Project

Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation and Central Railway have conducted initial meetings, and technical feasibility studies are currently ongoing to finalize execution plans.

Officials report that the tunnel will be built 20–25 meters below the surface, avoiding existing buildings, roads, and underground utilities through strategic route alignment.

A senior railway representative confirmed the team is preparing terms of reference and will soon appoint a consultant to lead the planning and analysis phases.

Two entry and exit points are under review at the CSMT end. One could be inside the terminus near the suburban tracks, while another might be along P D’Mello Road.

Mumbai Faces Planning Hurdles and Cost Escalation

The tunnel’s route must be coordinated with the upcoming Metro Line 11 and the existing underground Metro 3 station at CSMT, both of which complicate the alignment.

Space for tunnel boring machines near CSMT and Parel will be identified during the study to determine viable start and end points for excavation.

If approved, the full project—Phases 1 and 2—would cost approximately ₹3,000 crore or $360 million. That’s nearly triple the original estimate of ₹890.89 crore from 2008.

Mumbai’s authorities revised the cost to ₹1,337 crore in later years, but going underground significantly increases complexity and investment.

Despite the hurdles, the project has the potential to reshape urban rail travel in Mumbai by easing congestion and enhancing network resilience.

Source, photo: trak.in

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