Central Railway Speeds Up Lonavala Karjat Third Line Restoration, Targets July 31 To Resume Full Mumbai Pune Rail Services

Third Railway Line Restoration Enters Final Phase After Lonavala Ghat Landslide

Central Railway is working to restore the third Up railway line in the landslide affected Lonavala Karjat ghat section by July 31. Railway officials said restoration work is progressing quickly as engineers, technical experts and contractors continue construction day and night to rebuild the damaged railway embankment.

The landslide had disrupted train movement on one of the busiest railway routes connecting Mumbai and Pune. While train services have already resumed on two railway lines, the reopening of the third line is important to restore full railway capacity and improve punctuality across the corridor.

Railways Use Dual Construction Method To Speed Up Work

To complete the restoration faster, Central Railway has adopted a two sided construction strategy. Work is taking place from both the top and bottom of the damaged slope at the same time.

A temporary access road through the nearby forest has been repaired, allowing around 50 to 60 dumpers carrying granular filling material to reach the site every day. Long arm excavators are placing the material from the bottom of the slope upwards, and officials said nearly half of the lower slope restoration has already been completed.

At the upper section, railway engineers are unloading construction material from special railway material trains. The material is being released carefully to rebuild and strengthen the damaged embankment. According to railway officials, this combined approach has significantly reduced the time required for restoration.

Safety Checks Continue Before Third Line Reopens

Central Railway has deployed a large workforce along with heavy earthmoving machinery, dumpers and specialized engineering teams at the site. Engineers are also carrying out continuous inspections to ensure the restored embankment remains stable during the ongoing monsoon season.

Officials said the third railway line will be opened for passenger and freight traffic only after all engineering and safety standards are fully satisfied. Regular monitoring of slope stability and track safety is continuing throughout the restoration work.

Several Long Distance Trains Continue To Face Disruptions

As restoration work continues, Central Railway has extended the cancellation, diversion, short termination and short origination of several long distance trains.

Passengers travelling to destinations including Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur and Karaikal may continue to experience changes in train schedules. Many services are currently operating through alternative routes such as Daund, Manmad, Bhusaval and Surat to minimize disruptions.

Railway authorities have requested passengers to check the National Train Enquiry System, railway helplines and official railway social media channels before starting their journey to receive the latest updates.

Mumbai Pune Rail Corridor Expected To Return To Normal Soon

The Lonavala Karjat ghat section is one of the most important railway stretches on the Mumbai Pune route, carrying both passenger and freight trains every day. The restoration of the third railway line will improve operational flexibility, reduce congestion and help trains maintain better punctuality.

Despite difficult terrain and continuous monsoon conditions, Central Railway teams are working round the clock to complete the project within the targeted deadline. If work progresses as planned, the third line is expected to reopen by July 31, allowing normal train operations to resume across the Mumbai Pune corridor.