CSMT redevelopment: 75-day block from October 1, 8 trains affected

Central Railway will impose a 75-day traffic and power block at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus from 1 October to 15 December for redevelopment work. Eight long-distance trains will be short-terminated at Dadar or Thane during the period. Seven trains arriving at CSMT will now terminate at Dadar, while the Mangaluru-CSMT Express will terminate at Thane.

The block covers platforms 14 and 15 and is part of Phase-I of the Rs 2,450-crore CSMT redevelopment project by the Rail Land Development Authority. Construction teams will undertake foundation work, and train operations from the two platforms will remain suspended. The block follows an earlier extended closure of platforms 16 and 17 that continued until 5 September. Central Railway had sought full restoration of those platforms before further platforms were taken up, citing likely disruption to long-distance services. Once the block is completed, RLDA will hand the platforms back for train operations.

The project was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2022 and aims to turn the terminus into an integrated transport hub while preserving its heritage building. The original deadline of March 2026 has been extended to October 2028. Central Railway has advised passengers to check revised train arrangements and plan for the temporary changes.