For the lakhs of daily commuters boarding from Virar, some relief may finally be in sight. At present, many passengers struggle to even board trains at Virar, with coaches often packed beyond capacity by the time they arrive. To enhance train capacity and make boarding easier for commuters, the Railway is preparing to introduce 15-coach local trains from the Virar station. The longer trains will ease the severe overcrowding on one of Mumbai’s busiest suburban corridors. To support these longer trains, major infrastructure initiatives have been taken like construction of new platforms and expansion of existing platforms. These upgrades at the Virar station are part of the larger Virar-Dahanu Road quadrupling project.
Virar Station Upgrades: MRVC Completes Platform Expansion for longer trains
The move follows platform upgrades carried out by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC). Platforms 3A and 4A of Virar stations have been widened and extended to handle longer trains for commuters. The platform width has increased from 6.5 metres to 10.5 metres, which is expected to make boarding and getting off less congested, especially during peak hours.
A new platform, 5A, has also been constructed on the western side. A trial run of a 15-coach EMU train has already been completed on these platforms. The work at the station was completed in about four months, without shutting down operations. Once the infrastructure is formally handed over to Western Railway, services can begin.
Speaking on this development , CMD, MRVC, Shri Vilas S. Wadekar said, The augmentation works at Virar station mark an important step towards enhancing the capacity of the section. MRVC continues to execute such works in close coordination with Western Railway, ensuring safety and minimal disruption to suburban train operations.
Know more about Virar-Dahanu Road quadrupling project
These Virar station upgrades fall under the larger Virar-Dahanu Road quadrupling project. Indian Express reported that around 80 more trains are expected to be added on the this stretch, taking the total to nearly 120 services, compared to 43 currently running.
The reports further stated that Western Railway is also planning a new car shed near Dahanu Road for rake maintenance, alongside existing facilities at Virar, Kandivali, and Mumbai Central to support the expanded fleet.