Kalyan, Shahad, Titwala to Asangaon commuters take note: Railways seeks forest clearance for a fourth railway line

Around 6.5 hectares of forest land in Thane and Shahapur forest divisions may be diverted for the construction of a fourth railway line between Kalyan and Asangaon in Maharashtra. The 32.23-km project aims to increase the carrying capacity of Central Railway's crowded mainline corridor, where suburban local trains, mail and express trains, and freight services share the existing tracks, as reported by TOI. Central Railway (CR) has submitted an application on the Parivesh portal seeking approval to divert the forest land for the project. The proposal is part of the railway zone's broader efforts to improve capacity and ease congestion along the busy corridor.

Kalyan-Asangaon fourth railway line project cost

According to project documents, the fourth railway line is estimated to cost Rs 1,619.96 crore. The Railways and the Maharashtra government will share the project cost equally. The proposed line will extend over 32.23 km between Kalyan and Asangaon, running largely parallel to the existing and proposed railway tracks. The plan is to make maximum use of the Railways' existing right of way to reduce the need for additional land.

Why Central Railway needs a fourth line between Kalyan and Asangaon

The Kalyan-Asangaon section currently has two electrified railway tracks, while work on a third line is under way. Suburban local trains, long-distance passenger services and freight trains use the same corridor, leaving limited flexibility to accommodate more trains or manage disruptions. The railway network beyond Kalyan remains a bottleneck, particularly beyond Ambernath, where suburban and long-distance services share a constrained corridor. The proposed fourth line is expected to provide additional capacity and improve operational flexibility.

Which stations will the fourth railway line connect?

The proposed alignment will pass through Kalyan, Shahad, Ambivli, Titwala, Khadavali, Vasind and Asangaon. Existing railway yards at Kalyan, Titwala, Khadavali, Vasind and Asangaon will also be connected to the fourth line. The alignment will largely follow the existing railway corridor, allowing the Railways to expand capacity while limiting the requirement for fresh land acquisition.

Why is forest land required for the Kalyan-Asangaon railway project?

According to project documents, forest land diversion is necessary because the proposed alignment follows the existing railway corridor. Shifting the route elsewhere is considered unfeasible without increasing land requirements. The project authorities have used non-forest land wherever possible to minimise the diversion of forest land. The application for approximately 6.5 hectares in the Thane and Shahapur forest divisions is now part of the approval process.

Under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, as amended, forest land cannot be diverted for non-forestry purposes without prior approval from the Central government through the Union Environment Ministry.


Inputs from TOI