Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, July 10: Rail services on the Mumbai-Pune corridor will remain disrupted until July 17 after multiple landslides damaged tracks in the Bhor Ghat section, prompting the Central Railway to cancel 30 long-distance and intercity train services.
Heavy rainfall on July 6 triggered landslides between Karjat and Lonavala, severely damaging all three railway lines, particularly near the Thakurwadi and Monkey Hill cabins.
The Central Railway said 14 daily trains, eight trains on specified dates, and eight special trains have been cancelled as restoration work continues under challenging conditions.
The cancelled daily services include the Deccan Queen, Deccan Express, Mumbai-Pune Intercity Express, CSMT-Hyderabad Express, Chennai Egmore Superfast Mail, and Hubballi-Dadar Express.
Trains such as the Mahalaxmi Express, Jodhpur-Hadapsar Express, Dadar-Satara Express, and Dadar-Sainagar Shirdi Express have also been cancelled on selected dates. Several special trains connecting Mumbai and Pune with Gorakhpur, Ghazipur City, and Hazrat Nizamuddin have also been suspended.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the restoration work on Thursday and said the landslides had caused extensive damage to railway infrastructure.
The Mumbai-Pune route passes through the difficult Bhor (Khandala) Ghat section, which comprises three railway lines—the Up Line towards Mumbai, the Down Line towards Pune, and the Middle Line.
Railway officials said one of the three tracks has been restored, while work is continuing on the remaining two. Restoration has been slowed by difficult terrain and the challenge of transporting construction materials to affected locations.
Senior railway officials are monitoring the repair work on-site in coordination with the district administration and the forest department to restore normal operations at the earliest.
Passengers have been advised to check the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or contact railway helplines for the latest updates on train services.