The Western Railway (WR) has commenced enabling work for the sixth line corridor between Borivli and Mumbai Central, which will be used as a dedicated corridor for mail express operations. This will also create scope to increase services on the existing suburban corridor.

With view to using railway land in suburban Mumbai, which is currently occupied by the staff quarters, for the corridor, the WR is constructing a 20-storey building in Matunga north-end so that employees from Vile Parle and Jogeshwari can be shifted there.

The railway project worth Rs1018 crore will be finished in two phases, from Borivli to Bandra Terminus in the first phase and Bandra Terminus to Mumbai Central in the second phase.

“We are aiming to complete the entire project in three years. The project will give an exclusive corridor to mail expresses and will provide more scope to increase suburban services,” said Sharat Chandrayan, chief public relations officer, WR. 

Presently, the WR operates mail express trains on the fifth line — that is between Borivli-Bandra Terminus and Mahim to Bombay Central.

However, sometimes the express trains are also diverted onto the fast corridor. Once the sixth line becomes operational,  the diversion will reduce to a great extent, said the railway official. 

“Currently, the employee quarters building at Matunga north-end is under construction, so that employees residing in Vile Parle and Jogeshwari quarters can be shifted here. This is because the quarters land in the above suburbs will be required to accomplish the project,” added Chandrayan.