Mumbai Locals to be Replaced with 238 Vande Bharat Trains

Mumbai locals have been under a tremendous burden for decades now, as the ever-growing crowds of the city rely heavily on them as their main source of transport. While the recently expanded metro network has somewhat eased this burden, the central and state government have been aiming to modernise Mumbai’s rail infrastructure and connectivity by replaying Mumbai locals with Vande Bharat trains. The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has issued an international tender to procure 238 Vande Bharat metro AC trains with 2856 coaches in total.

These Vande Bharat trains will be deployed in the Suburban rail lines, effectively replacing the current Mumbai locals. Along with this ambitious rail project, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Developmental Authority (MMRDA) has been proactively working on increasing the metro connectivity in the suburban region of the city. Phase 2 of Lines 2A and 7 have been extended till Andheri West and Gundavali, and work is also underway to begin the Bandra-SEEPZ-Colaba network, which will play a big role in heightening overall connectivity across the city. On the road front, the upcoming Trans-Harbour Link will shorten the travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai region to just 20-25 minutes, whereas the Coastal Road project is also expected to be completed by May 2024.

Image source: PTI