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Central Railway is planning a 26-km emergency access road along the Karjat-Lonavala ghat section to strengthen disaster response during monsoon-related disruptions. The proposed road will allow rescue teams, maintenance staff and heavy equipment to reach affected locations more quickly, reducing delays in restoring train services. The initiative follows recent landslides that disrupted rail operations on the busy Mumbai-Pune corridor and highlighted the need for better access to remote sections of the ghat route.
Central Railway is preparing a proposal to build a dedicated emergency access road alongside the Karjat-Lonavala ghat section, aiming to improve response times during landslides, heavy rainfall and other incidents that disrupt rail operations on the Mumbai-Pune route.
Stretching approximately 26 km, the proposed road is intended exclusively for emergency and maintenance purposes. It will provide railway personnel, disaster response teams and engineering equipment with direct access to vulnerable locations where conventional road connectivity is limited or unavailable.
The Karjat-Lonavala section is one of the most challenging parts of the Central Railway network. Passing through steep gradients, tunnels and forested terrain, the corridor frequently experiences disruptions during the monsoon due to landslides, falling boulders and waterlogging. Such incidents often make it difficult for restoration teams to reach affected sites quickly, prolonging service interruptions.
Railway officials believe the proposed access road will significantly improve operational resilience by enabling faster inspection of damaged infrastructure, movement of repair machinery and evacuation of stranded passengers whenever required. The corridor could also support routine maintenance activities in areas that are otherwise difficult to access.
The proposal gained momentum after recent monsoon-related disruptions on the Mumbai-Pune rail line, when extensive restoration work was required to clear debris and repair damaged infrastructure. Large teams of railway employees and specialised equipment had to be mobilised to restore normal train movement, highlighting the logistical challenges posed by the terrain.
Besides strengthening emergency preparedness, the access road is expected to enhance overall safety by allowing quicker deployment of rescue personnel during natural disasters or infrastructure failures. Railway authorities are evaluating the technical feasibility of the project while considering environmental, engineering and operational aspects before seeking the necessary approvals.
If implemented, the project would become an important resilience measure for one of India's busiest railway corridors, helping minimise disruption to passenger and freight services during extreme weather events while improving the railway's ability to respond to emergencies in the Western Ghats.
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