The Central Railway’s Mumbai Division will operate special night traffic and power blocks between Kalyan and Badlapur for the launching and de-launching of a foot overbridge (FOB) from November 7 to 9. The block will be in place from 1.50 am to 3.20 am, officials said on Thursday.
During the block period, several long-distance and suburban services will be affected. Two mail and express trains, 11020 Bhubaneshwar–CSMT Konark Express and 18519 Visakhapatnam–LTT Express, will be diverted via Karjat–Panvel–Diva. Trains that usually halt at Kalyan will instead halt at Panvel and Thane for the convenience of passengers.
In addition, the 12702 Hyderabad–CSMT Hussainsagar Express will be regulated at Vangani between 3.13 am and 3.20 am, while other late-running services may also be diverted depending on operational requirements.
Suburban train services between Kalyan and Karjat will remain suspended during the block. The affected services include the CSMT–Ambernath (A1) local departing at 12.02 am and the Ambernath–CSMT (A66) local leaving at 10.15 pm, both of which have been cancelled. The CSMT–Karjat (S1) local at 12.12 am will be short-terminated at Thane, while the Karjat–CSMT (S2) local at 2.30 am will originate from Thane at 4 am, the release stated.
The press release, issued by Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway, noted that these measures are essential for infrastructure development and passenger safety.
Railways clears plan for passenger holding areas at 76 stations, including five in Mumbai
In a major boost to passenger comfort and crowd management, the Ministry of Railways has approved the creation of passenger holding areas at 76 railway stations across India. The move follows the success of a similar facility at New Delhi Railway Station, which helped manage the festive rush during Diwali and Chhath this year.
Mumbai features prominently in the expansion plan, with five key stations — CSMT, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Dadar, Mumbai Central, and Bandra Terminus — selected for upgrades under the project. Announcing the initiative, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new holding areas would feature modular designs customised to local station layouts. “These zones will provide passengers with safe, comfortable spaces to wait during peak travel hours and festive seasons. The modular design will improve crowd flow, safety, and the overall travel experience,” the minister said.
Mumbai, one of India’s busiest rail hubs, handles lakhs of commuters daily across suburban and long-distance trains. Festival travel pushes footfalls beyond capacity, leading to congestion on platforms and concourses. The new holding areas are expected to reduce overcrowding and streamline station management significantly. Construction is set to begin soon, with the deadline to complete all 76 facilities before the 2026 festive season.
