India, Sept. 4 -- The Indian Railways have done a quick pivot and switched their plan to procure 238 air-conditioned (AC) local trains, so that they can be configured as 15- or even 18- car locals, rather than as 12-coach trains.

The amended plan was presented to the state government two weeks ago by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), with an eye on Mumbai's swelling railway commuting population. It was among many infrastructure projects cleared by the state cabinet on Wednesday.

These trains, which will be made up of 2,856 coaches, will be introduced on both the Western and Central railways' suburban sections. Tenders for the new coaches will be floated this month.

Railway officials said the current fleet of AC locals comprises...