Western Railway Plans Borivali Station Redevelopment and Kandivali Upgrade

Western Railway has planned a major redevelopment of Borivali station alongside a parallel upgrade of the nearby Kandivali station in Mumbai to ease passenger congestion. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the integrated master plans on Monday, which aim to improve operational efficiency, passenger comfort, and accessibility without disrupting train services.

Borivali station is one of the busiest hubs on the Western Railway network. It currently handles approximately 191 long-distance train services and nearly 1,200 suburban services daily, catering to around 3.65 lakh passengers every day. With passenger traffic projected to increase significantly in the coming years, the redevelopment aims to address current congestion while creating capacity for future growth.

The master plan for Borivali proposes the construction of an additional platform. It also includes expanded concourse areas, wider passenger circulation spaces, and improved inter-platform connectivity through upgraded foot overbridges. Additional lifts, escalators, skywalk connectivity, and streamlined entry and exit systems are also planned, alongside expanded parking infrastructure to facilitate smoother passenger movement.

To further ease pressure on Borivali, Western Railway has decided to undertake the parallel development of Kandivali station, located about two kilometres away. Officials stated that adequate railway land is available at Kandivali to support future train operations and accommodate growing passenger demand.

The proposal for Kandivali station includes multi-level parking, dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones, improved road connectivity, and transit-oriented development. This is intended to create a seamless multimodal transport system capable of supporting long-term growth.

During the review meeting, Minister Vaishnaw stressed that all redevelopment works must be carried out with minimal inconvenience to passengers and without disrupting ongoing train operations.

The redevelopment plans come amid demands from local MLA Sanjay Upadhyay to expedite the modernisation of Borivali station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Upadhyay has also sought improved suburban connectivity for the western suburbs, including Borivali–Belapur local services and a Borivali–Vasai–Diva–Kalyan corridor, to reduce travel times for commuters who currently have to change trains en route.