In a major boost to the upcoming Panvel-Karjat suburban corridor, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation on Sunday executed a technically complex yard modification at Panvel. The crucial work, however, came at a cost to passengers, as the mega block extended more than two hours beyond schedule. Planned to end at 11.45 am, the block continued until 1.54 pm due to the intricacy of the point-shifting operation, leaving commuters stranded and triggering protests.

Central Railway said it coordinated with Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport to run additional buses during the extended block. The layout modification forms a key part of the Rs 2782 crore MUTP-III project. Officials said the task involved precise realignments inside the highly congested Panvel yard to prepare space for the new suburban tracks that will eventually link Panvel to Karjat.