Mumbai's Suburban Railway Nears 1 Crore Daily Riders Amid Housing Crisis
Despite expanding Metro lines and app-based cabs, Mumbai’s suburban railway remains the city’s lifeline. Central Railway carries 62 lakh weekday passengers and Western Railway 31 lakh, pushing daily ridership close to 1 crore and raising concerns over overcrowding and safety.
Evening rush hour crowds at CSMT as suburban train ridership continues to surge. File pic/Ashish Raje
Despite new Metro lines, buses, and app cabs, suburban railway remains the city's transport lifeline, with weekday ridership on Central Railway (CR) alone surging to 62 lakh passengers. Add Western Railway's (WR) daily 31 lakh riders, and Mumbai's suburban network is now inching towards the 1 crore daily mark. Officials say rapid housing growth across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is pushing more commuters onto trains, intensifying crowding and safety concerns.
Why Local Trains Are Preferred
From CSMT to Kalyan, about 51 km, a local train takes roughly 75 to 80 minutes and costs around Rs 15. Even Karjat or Kasara, over 100 km away, can be reached in two to two and a half hours for Rs 30 to Rs 50 in second class. With season passes, the cost per trip drops to just a few rupees. Road travel takes longer in traffic and can cost hundreds or more, while metro lines do not reach these towns. That is why the suburban railway remains the cheapest and most practical option, according to an official.
Voices
Paresh Rawal, public policy expert “We can see the crowding on the ground. Passenger estimates based on ticket formulas may not reflect the real surge. Authorities must study growth corridors and increase services accordingly.”
AV Shenoy, Mumbai Mobility Forum “The spike is linked to the housing crisis and rapid real estate growth in the MMR. With affordable homes scarce in Mumbai, people are pushed to distant townships but still rely on local trains to commute.”
Why Crowds Keep Rising
- Rapid real estate growth across MMR - Workers living further from the city - Limited new rail alternatives in expanding suburbs - Local trains still the cheapest and fastest option - Transport experts say the numbers reflect the city's housing crisis
Metro vs Local Trains
Mumbai now has four Metro lines carrying about 9 lakh passengers daily.
Metro Line 1 4.5-5 Lakh
Lines 2A & 7 combined 2.5-3 Lakh
Line 3 (partial) 1.3-1.6 Lakh
Total Metro ridership 9 Lakh
Even combined, Metro usage is still a fraction of suburban railway traffic.
Ridership Snapshot
Central Railway weekday average 62 lakh
Central Railway 2025 weekday average 45 lakh
Western Railway daily average 31 lakh
Total suburban riders 93 lakh per day
Busiest Day on Record
January 5, 2026 - CR ridership 72.18 lakh - WR ridership 52.07 lakh
Officials say the spike may be linked to the first working day after the holiday season and renewal of monthly passes.
Why Officials Are Concerned
- Rising passenger density is linked to: - Overcrowding and platform congestion - Passenger falls and injuries - Increased commuter conflicts - Pressure on train frequency and capacity - Railway planners say weekday-only data gives a clearer picture than older averages that included quieter weekends
