MUMBAI: The first phase of the proposed Nerul-Uran rail was inaugurated on November 11. This brings the rail link closer to the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport. A local train with railway employees was flagged off from Kharkopar station by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal along with Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Regular services on the corridor began from November 12 and link Ulwe node in Navi Mumbai with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Panvel on the Harbour line besides Thane on the Trans-Harbour corridor.
The Ulwe node is located opposite the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. The 12-kilometre section has five stations namely Seawoods, Sagarsasnagam, Targhar, Bamandongari and Kharkopar. A commuter will be able to board a train from Belapur or Nerul to reach Kharkopar. However, trains will not be halting at Sagarsasnagam and Targhar as the stations are yet to be completed. Targhar, which is about three kilometres from the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport, will be the closest railway station and is likely to be ready for use in another eight months.