Western Railway to Extend Dadar Platform 4 for 15-Coach Trains

Western Railway is undertaking significant infrastructure work at Dadar station to extend Platform 4 by 70 to 80 metres towards Churchgate, allowing it to accommodate 15-coach fast local trains. The project forms part of a broader capacity expansion across the suburban corridor, which also includes platform extensions at Bandra, Santacruz, and Vile Parle.

The platform lengthening at Dadar is directly tied to the wider fifth and sixth-line project between Virar and Mumbai Central, which is currently being extended from Dadar towards Parel. At present, 15-coach fast suburban locals arriving at Dadar must use Platform 5. Once the extension of Platform 4 is completed, these longer services will shift to Platform 4, eliminating the need for operational adjustments during train movements.

The changes are critical to increasing commuter carrying capacity. While a 12-coach local train requires roughly 270 metres of platform length, a 15-coach rake requires around 330 metres and can carry approximately 4,380 passengers.

To clear the alignment for the new sixth line, Platform 5 at Dadar will be shortened by about 70 to 80 metres. Railway officials stated that the existing length of Platform 5 is more than required and stands in the way of the new route connecting existing tracks between Dadar and Parel.

The project also tackled structural constraints related to pedestrian flow. A pillar supporting an old foot overbridge fell inside the construction zone and is being removed to clear the tracks. To avoid disruption to commuters, a new foot overbridge has already been commissioned and linked to the existing Central Railway foot overbridge, maintaining passenger access throughout the work.

The Dadar work aligns with Western Railway's broader strategy to expand 15-coach local services across the city. Platforms at Bandra, Khar Road, Santacruz, and Vile Parle are being extended to permit 15-coach slow locals to operate up to Bandra. The platform extension at Khar Road is already complete, with work at the remaining stations expected to finish soon.

Beyond suburban operations, moving 15-coach fast locals to Platform 4 will free up Platform 5 at Dadar, allowing it to be used more effectively for mail and express trains while easing overall rail traffic.