Image Source: The Indian Express
Work on the first bullet train origin station for Mumbai at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is racing ahead, creating a huge boost for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, after a recent site visit, confirmed that the project is progressing “very fast,” with over three-quarters of the critical excavation work now finished. The ambitious infrastructure initiative is set to transform Mumbai’s rail connectivity and is expected to become operational by 2028.
Key Developments at a Glance
Progress Update from the Ground
Around 76% of excavation work on the BKC underground station has been completed, and 14.2 lakh cubic metres of earth have been removed out of a total of 18.7 lakh cubic metres to be excavated.
BKC station is the lone underground halt on the 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor.
Work on the lowest B3 basement level and station wall strengthening has been finished, and work on tunnels is underway in a speedy manner.
Station Design & Features
The BKC station will be a three-level underground multi-storey structure - platform, concourse, and services floor.
Platfirm are designed at a level of around 26 metres below ground, with the overall digging depth being 32 metres-the height of a 10-storey building.
Six platforms of roughly 415 metres length will have space for 16-coach bullet trains.
The station will provide direct access to Mumbai Metro Line 2B and surrounding roads, with two exclusive entry/exit points for smooth passenger flow.
Advanced construction methods are being employed, such as temperature-controlled concrete and on-site quality laboratories for high-tech material testing.
Wider Project Impact
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is worth ₹1.08 lakh crore and is financed jointly by the Indian government, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and a low-interest Japanese loan.
The project is expected to become operational by 2028, as confirmed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Additional infrastructure upgrades are underway at Panvel and Juinagar stations, and the Panvel-Karjat suburban rail link is progressing to ease congestion in Mumbai’s rail network.
The dedicated freight corridor, now in its final stages, will divert goods trains from main passenger lines, improving efficiency for both freight and passenger services.
Minister’s Remarks
"The construction at the origin station of the bullet train in BKC is going extremely quickly. The work on the station wall has been initiated, and at the same time, the tunnel work is going extremely quickly," - Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Railway Minister.
Looking Ahead
As the BKC station speeds its way to completion, Mumbai is set to experience a new phase in high-speed train travel, with quicker connectivity, improved passenger facilities, and a significant stimulus for the area's infrastructure and economy.
Sources: Mid-Day, Economic Times, CNBC TV18, India TV News, Millennium Post, Devdiscourse
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