Western Railway Orders Nallasopara Track Survey After Flooding Cancels 125 Trains
On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, severe track flooding near Nallasopara forced the suspension of suburban train services between Vasai Road and Virar, leaving thousands of evening commuters stranded. In response to the recurring disruption, Western Railway General Manager Ramashray Pandey ordered a feasibility survey to raise the level of the tracks in the flood-prone section.
The suspension on Tuesday marked the second consecutive day of major disruptions on the corridor. Western Railway cancelled 125 suburban train services on Tuesday, following 100 cancellations on Monday. While limited services operated in the morning, fast local trains ran 40 to 50 minutes behind schedule before operations between Vasai Road and Virar were completely suspended at 4:30 p.m. due to rising water levels.
The suspension left thousands of commuters stranded during the evening rush hour. While passengers travelling towards Churchgate faced delays, those heading back past Vasai struggled to find transport. Hundreds remained stuck at stations, while some passengers resorted to walking along the waterlogged railway tracks to reach nearby stations. Long-distance mail and express trains continued to run on the through lines, remaining largely unaffected.
Railway officials attributed the repeated flooding to the natural topography of the region. While Palghar is located at a higher elevation, Virar, Nallasopara, and Vasai lie on a lower gradient, causing rainwater to flow downhill into these areas. Rapid urbanisation, restricted natural drainage channels, and inadequate stormwater outlets have further slowed down water drainage. At Nallasopara, the city and the railway station sit at nearly the same level, causing water to accumulate quickly on the tracks.
During his inspection of the affected Vasai–Virar section on Tuesday, General Manager Pandey directed officials to conduct a survey to raise the railway tracks. The survey will also ensure that the proposed Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) fifth and sixth line project is constructed at an appropriate elevation to protect future railway infrastructure from monsoon flooding.
