Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed joint press conference on road transport in Mumbai, Railway, and other upcoming projects on Friday. In a move to make public transport more convenient in Mumbai, the much-anticipated ‘Mumbai-1’ single card system is set to be launched soon announced the Chief Minister.

The unified card will allow commuters to access all modes of public transport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including the suburban railway, Metro, Monorail and city buses, with a single tap. “This will revolutionise how Mumbai travels,” CM Fadnavis said while addressing the press.

Meanwhile Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that 238 new AC trains will be sanctioned for Mumbai suburban network, a timely announcement at the onset of summer to handle office time rush in the local trains. These new AC trains are expected to make travelling more convenient across the Western, Central and Harbour lines.

Railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 17,000 crore in Mumbai

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw further announced that railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,73,804 crore are currently underway across Maharashtra. Apart from existing projects, new railway projects worth Rs 23,778 crore have been sanctioned this year, the minister informed. He further said that projects worth Rs 17,000 crore are specifically being implemented in Mumbai alone.

🔸CM Devendra Fadnavis & Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw chaired a meeting regarding the preparation of ‘WAVES Summit 2025’
🔸मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस आणि केंद्रीय मंत्री अश्विनी वैष्णव यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखाली ‘वेव्ह्स समिट 2025’च्या पूर्वतयारी संदर्भात बैठक
🔸मुख्यमंत्री… pic.twitter.com/Syoh9gBscc

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 11, 2025

Gondia-Ballarshah railway line in Maharashtra

Among the major announcements regarding rail network in the state include the Gondia-Ballarshah railway line in eastern Maharashtra, which has received approval from the Prime Minister.

I am very happy to announce, that in the recent cabinet meeting, PM Modi has sanctioned, doubling of railway line from Gondia to Ballarshah of worth Rs 4819 crore. In the historic third time of PM Modi, several railway projects have been sanctioned for Maharashtra. Like Manmad- Indore line, Bhusawal- Khandwa line and now this line. Projects associated with Maharashtra, along with freight corridor, Bullet train and railway station development – a total of Rs 1 lakh 73 thousand, 804 crore have been sanctioned,” Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the press in Mumbai.

Chief Minister Eknath Fadnavis, speaking at the same event, noted that this project would significantly enhance connectivity between Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit Train Line

Chief Minister Fadnavis also announced the upcoming ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit Train Line’, which is expected to promote tourism in the state. The new circuit train will take passengers on a heritage journey through areas marked by forts and landmarks from the era of national hero Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Mumbai to be the permanent venue for WAVES summit

The CM also stated that the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) will take place in Mumbai from May 1 to 4. Over 5,000 delegates from 100 countries are expected to attend the summit. The Chief Minister said Mumbai will be the permanent venue for the yearly summit, which will boost the state’s “creative economy”.