Western Railway Plans 45-Day Bandra-Khar Flyover Rebuild

Western Railway Aims to Complete Bandra-Khar Flyover Rebuild in Just 45 Days

Western Railway (WR) is planning to rebuild the Bandra-Khar Road rail flyover in just 45 days, significantly reducing the earlier proposed 90-day closure. The faster reconstruction plan is expected to play a major role in completing the Mumbai Central-Borivali sixth railway line, an important project designed to increase rail capacity and improve train operations across Mumbai.

Railway officials plan to use modern precast construction technology and advanced engineering methods to complete the demolition, rebuilding, and commissioning of the flyover during a single mega block. The proposal is currently awaiting final approvals.

Flyover Rebuild Is Key to the Sixth Railway Line

The existing Bandra-Khar flyover carries Harbour Line trains operating between CSMT, Panvel, and Goregaon. However, the current structure blocks the alignment needed for the new sixth railway line.

Once the flyover is rebuilt, it will create space for the additional railway track. This will allow suburban and long-distance train services to operate more efficiently on separate tracks, improving punctuality and reducing congestion across one of Mumbai's busiest railway corridors.

Officials said the revised construction plan is also intended to reduce inconvenience for passengers by shortening the shutdown period from three months to about six weeks.

Mumbai Central-Borivali Sixth Line Project Moves Forward

The sixth railway line is being developed jointly by Western Railway and the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phase II.

The project covers a 30.04-kilometer stretch between Mumbai Central and Borivali. The Khar Road-Borivali section has already been completed and opened for operations. However, work between Mumbai Central and Khar Road remains challenging because of dense urban development, utility relocation, and station upgrades.

According to railway officials, major progress has already been achieved:

• Most land acquisition work has been completed.
• Only a small portion of government land at Lower Parel is awaiting statutory approval.
• All five engineering sanction proposals have received approval.
• Utility shifting work is underway.
• Four of the five planned electrical buildings have already been completed.
• Signalling, telecommunication, and overhead equipment installation continue to progress.

Several Major Infrastructure Works Still Pending

Despite steady progress, several important construction activities remain before the project can be completed.

The remaining work includes:

• Construction of 15 railway bridges
• Around 13.3 kilometers of earthwork
• Development of new island platforms
• Construction of foot over bridges
• Service buildings
• Track linking work
• Electrical system installation

Officials describe the Bandra-Khar flyover reconstruction as one of the most technically demanding parts of the entire project.

Additional work includes relocating project-affected families in Bandra East, constructing new Platforms 7 and 8 at Bandra station, modifying station infrastructure, and shifting railway buildings and public utilities at Mahim, Lower Parel, and Mumbai Central.

Harbour Line Services May Be Affected During Mega Block

The planned 45-day construction period is expected to temporarily affect Harbour Line commuters.

During the mega block, train services between Bandra and Goregaon may remain suspended or operate only on limited routes. Many Harbour Line trains are likely to terminate at Bandra instead of running their full journey.

Western Railway said it is preparing a detailed traffic management plan to minimize disruption for the lakhs of passengers who depend on the Harbour Line every day.

Modern Construction Methods to Speed Up Work

Railway engineers plan to use precast segmental construction technology to complete the project faster without compromising safety or quality.

Officials said major civil work tenders are expected to be awarded in phases beginning in August 2026, allowing construction activities to move ahead quickly once approvals are received.

Sixth Railway Line Expected to Improve Mumbai's Rail Network

After completion, the Mumbai Central-Borivali sixth railway line will significantly strengthen Mumbai's suburban railway system.

The project is expected to:

• Increase railway capacity on the Western corridor.
• Improve punctuality of mail and express trains.
• Separate suburban and long-distance train operations.
• Provide greater operational flexibility.
• Support the introduction of additional local train services.
• Reduce congestion on one of India's busiest suburban railway networks.

With daily passenger demand continuing to rise, railway officials believe the sixth railway line will become an important upgrade for Mumbai's growing transportation network.

Project Highlights

• Flyover rebuild target: 45 days
• Earlier proposed shutdown: 90 days
• Project length: 30.04 km (Mumbai Central-Borivali)
• Bridges to be constructed: 15
• Earthwork remaining: 13.3 km
• Utilities shifted: 14 of 29
• Electrical buildings completed: 4 of 5

Signalling works in progress: 3 of 5 sections