Mumbai: Mumbai’s suburban railway network is set for a major boost, with Indian Railway has decided to manufacture 238 new local trains for the city. The announcement was made recently by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who termed it "good news for Mumbaikars."

Vaishnaw stated that the decision was taken following discussions with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding improvements to Mumbai's railway infrastructure.

"I was in Maharashtra, and during my discussions with Devendra Fadnavis regarding the improvement of Mumbai local trains, this topic came up. We are glad to announce that the production of 238 new local trains for Mumbai has been finally approved," Vaishnaw said.

Mumbai’s lifeline, the suburban railway network, serves millions of daily commuters. The addition of 238 new trains is expected to ease congestion and enhance passenger comfort. However, the minister did not clarify whether these new trains would be air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned.

Under the original plan, the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phase-3 aimed to procure 47 AC local trains at an estimated cost of Rs 3,491 crore, while MUTP-3A proposed 191 trains at Rs 15,802 crore. However, political delays had stalled the project. Now, with the new approval, the initiative appears to be back on track.

Earlier, reports had suggested that 338 trains would be manufactured under the 'Make in India' initiative, with a technology partner ensuring compliance with the Centre's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade guidelines. However, the recent announcement does not confirm whether the approved 238 trains are part of this earlier plan or a revised procurement strategy.