Traveling between Surat and Bharuch or Surat and Vapi will be as easy as traveling to Borivali or Virar from Mumbai Central. On the lines of Mumbai local trains, suburban trains are likely to operate in the future between Surat and Vapi, as well as Surat and Bharuch, mirroring Mumbai’s ‘local train’ transportation model. This will be possible after the existing Surat railway station’s conversion into a Multi-Modal Transportation Hub (MMTH) becomes a reality. The initiative, projected over the next 50 years, is part of Western Railway’s strategy to address commuting needs and alleviate Surat’s population density.

Sources in Railways, speaking anonymously, said this plan would require extensive surveys, feasibility reports, and infrastructure preparations. This includes upgrading smaller railway stations along the Surat-Vapi and Surat-Bharuch routes, such as Kudsad, Sanjali, Hansapor, and Gandhismriti, to accommodate suburban train services with essential facilities like platforms, foot overbridges, benches, water facilities, and toilets.

Once ready, the Surat MMTH will integrate various transportation modes, including state transport, city buses, BRTS, metro, and long-distance trains, fostering seamless connectivity. Currently, Surat railway station’s limited platforms hinder any plan to launch regular operation of suburban trains. To accommodate the new system, Surat MMTH is under construction with provisions for additional platforms.

If executed, the plan will benefit Surat, Udhna, Bhestan, Sachin, Maroli, Navsari, Gandhi Smruti, Hansapor, Vedchhi, Ancheli, Amalsad, Bilimora, Joravasan, Dungri, Valsad, Atul, Pardi, Udvada, Bagwada, and Vapi on the Surat-Vapi line and Utran, Kosad, Gothangam, Sayan, Kudsad, Kim, Kosamba, Hathuran, Panoli, Sanjali, Ankleshwar, and Bharuch on the Surat-Bharuch line.

The plan is feasible due to the recently completed Delhi-Mumbai Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC). As most goods trains will shift to the DFC, the routine line will have the capacity to operate more trains, including suburban trains. Presently, Surat railway station has just four platforms, making it difficult to run suburban trains, but once the MMTH project is completed, there will be two more platforms in Surat, one for the southern direction (Udhna) and the other for the northern direction (Utran). The initial plan is to operate suburban trains once every two hours. DeshGujarat