PANVEL, Oct. 7 -- The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), expected to be inaugurated on October 8, is driving the expansion of the suburban section of the Central Railway at the farthest end of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Among the key projects underway or under consideration are a fast line on the CSMT-Panvel corridor; upgradation of the Panvel and Targhar stations; and completion of the new Panvel-Karjat subruban rail corridor. Back in 2009-10, the Union railway budget (the Indian Railways then had a separate budget from the General Budget), had proposed a fast line from CSMT to Panvel, on the Harbour Line, with revised plans submitted in 2016. But with the focus shifting to building and expanding the metro rail network, this line was placed on the backburner. It has now been revived and is likely to be explored under Phase 4 of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) proposed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation. According to previous plans, the proposed 47-km CSMT-Panvel fast line was to start from on the far eastern side of CSMT. "We are currently finalising consulting firms who will conduct a feasibility study for new rail corridors across MMR, around NMIA, and the proposed Third Mumbai. This will include a fast rail corridor on the Harbour Line (the CSMT-Panvel fast line), among other possible rail corridors, stations, and trespass control measures on mid-sections etc," said a railway official. Sources said that CSMT is currently undergoing a Rs.2,500-crore makeover into a world-class railway station. In this context, the authorities are looking at how to amalgamate the proposed CSMT-Panvel fast corridor into the new design. Its alignment will have to be tweaked, to bypass the viaducts of the Atal Setu and proposed Sewri-Worli connector, and later in Navi Mumbai. Originally, this fast line was projected to ferry 39,000 peak-hour passengers by 2031, with trains every 4-5 minutes. As far as stations go, two critical projects are underway - the Panvel station makeover and the new Targhar station being readied by the CR, just 1km from NMIA. With terrace parking, integrated shuttle services, retail spaces, and three platforms, it is designed to be an important hub in the NMIA connectivity plan. At present, trains do not halt at Targhar. Panvel station will accommodate the under-construction Panvel-Karjat suburban line, a station building and a dedicated freight corridor. Amitesh Shah, Zonal CEO, Mumbai Zone, Godrej Properties, said: "As commercial activity around NMIA intensifies, the preference for self-sustaining residential townships in Panvel will only grow stronger." At present, there are three platforms for suburban rail on the CSMT- and Thane- to Panvel corridors, and three for long-distance trains at Panvel station. Work is underway to augment this to 12 platforms....