The Belapur-Uran line is a key railway project intended to improve connectivity in the area. Navi Mumbai eagerly anticipates the official opening of the line’s final phase. The track has been approved for passenger train operations by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) since March, but the services have not yet started.
The project, which spanned a total of 26.7 kilometres, was carried out in two stages. In November 2018, the first phase, a 12.4-kilometre connection between Nerul/Belapur and Kharkopar, opened to travellers. Connectivity significantly improved at this initial stage. With the successful completion of the final 14.3km portion, the project is now getting closer to its end objective.
According to a transportation expert, the Belapur-Uran Line’s primary goal is to improve transportation options for the planned Navi Mumbai Airport. However, once the last phase is operational, people will be able to travel from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Uran in about an hour and a half.
Currently, local services will begin on the last section of the Belapur-Uran Line, according to sources within the railway administration. Passenger train services will begin once local services are running, considerably enhancing convenience and connectivity for Navi Mumbai residents.
Although the project’s completion represents a positive milestone, some customers are irate that the services weren’t launched sooner. Belapur resident Jayesh Thakkar questioned why the railway decided to postpone the start of operations despite acquiring track certification from the relevant authority. In a similar vein, Mahendra Kamble lamented the lengthy wait for the eagerly awaited project, which was finished back in March.