Central Railway Aims To Restore Third Line By July 31

Central Railway is working to restore the third railway line in the landslide-hit Lonavala–Karjat ghat section by July 31. The line was damaged after a major landslide earlier this month.

Engineers and contractors are working round the clock to rebuild the damaged embankment. Two lines have already been reopened for train services, but restoration of the third line is critical for bringing the busy Mumbai–Pune rail corridor back to full capacity.

The work is being carried out simultaneously from both the top and bottom of the affected slope to speed up restoration. A temporary approach road through the forest has been repaired, allowing 50–60 dumpers of granular material to reach the site every day.

Long-arm excavators are placing the material from the base upwards, with nearly 50 per cent of the lower slope restoration already completed. At the top of the slope, material is being unloaded from special railway trains and released in a controlled manner to rebuild the embankment.

Railway officials said this dual approach has significantly accelerated the restoration process. Extensive manpower, heavy earthmoving equipment, dumpers and specialised engineering teams have been deployed at the site.

Safety remains the top priority, with continuous monitoring of slope stability, embankment strength and other engineering parameters. The third line will be reopened only after all safety standards are met.

Meanwhile, Central Railway has extended the cancellation, diversion, short termination and short origination of several long-distance trains until the third line is restored. Services on routes to Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Karaikal and several other destinations will continue to remain affected over the next few days.

Once the third line is reopened, train operations on the Mumbai–Pune corridor are expected to return to normal, easing congestion and improving punctuality. Passengers have been advised to check the National Train Enquiry System (NTES), railway helplines and official social media platforms for the latest train updates.

The restoration of the third line is crucial for the Mumbai–Pune rail corridor, which is one of the busiest in the country. The corridor connects Mumbai to Pune, a major city in Maharashtra, and is used by thousands of commuters every day.

The landslide that damaged the third line was a major setback for commuters, who have been facing delays and cancellations of trains. The restoration of the line will bring relief to commuters, who have been struggling to travel between Mumbai and Pune.

In conclusion, the restoration of the third line in the landslide-hit Lonavala–Karjat ghat section is a major priority for Central Railway. The railway authorities are working hard to restore the line by July 31, and passengers can expect normal train operations to resume soon.