Bandra Kurla Complex high-speed railway station explained

Bandra Kurla Complex high-speed railway station
Type: Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Railway station
Style:Indian Railways
Address:Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Country:India
Coordinates:19.0682°N 72.8659°W
Elevation:18m (59feet)
Line:Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor
Structure:Underground
Platform:6
Tracks:6
Parking:Yes
Opened:[1]
Electrified:Yes
Owned:National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited
Operator:National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited
Status:Under construction
Map Type:India Maharashtra#India
Map Size:300
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Caption:Interactive map

Bandra Kurla Complex high-speed railway station, shortened to Mumbai BKC station, is an under construction high-speed railway station on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor.[2] This station is located at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India. It is the first and the southern terminus, as well as the only underground station of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor.

Construction

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) had originally invited tenders for Package "C1" of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor (MAHSR) in November 2019, but cancelled it in February 2022. Tenders were re-invited in July 2022, with a deadline of five years.[3] The MEIL-HCC Joint Venture (JV), consisting of Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) and Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCC), won the tender in December 2022. The NSHRCL signed an agreement with the MEIL-HCC JV for the design and construction of the high-speed railway station in March 2023.[4] [5] In September 2023, the JV began construction on the station after acquiring 4.8 hectares of land at the Bandra-Kurla Complex, with a completion deadline of 54 months. The station is slated to be completed by March 2028.[6] [1]

Lines

The station will be served by the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, and will be the first station as well as the southern terminus of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor in Mumbai.[7] It is also planned to be served as the western terminus of the Mumbai–Nagpur high-speed rail corridor.[8]

Structure

The station will have six platforms and 6 tracks for regular services.[9] The platforms will be built at a depth of about from the ground level. It will have three levels - platform, concourse and service floor, and the exterior building above the underground levels will have seven floors, which will be used for office, commercial and residential spaces.[10] The long station area will have 6 platforms of length for 16-coach E5 Series Shinkansen trains.[4] [1]

Features

Both the underground and the exterior sections of the station will have advanced facilities and amenities for visitors and passengers. There will be two entry and exit points–one to cater to the nearby metro station on Line 2B of Mumbai Metro, and another towards the MTNL building. The station's design has been made to accommodate sufficient space for passenger movement and amenities at the concourse and platform levels. There will be ticketing and waiting areas, a business-class lounge, a nursery, restrooms, smoking rooms, information booths, retail centres and a public information and announcement system. Moreover, skylight provisions will be present on the roof and ceilings for natural lighting and reduced energy usage. The station will be developed as a transport hub through integration with all basic modes of transportation for better, faster and hassle-free connectivity to and from the station, such as autos, buses and taxis.[10]

Connectivity

Road

The station will be located along the Bandra Kurla Complex road, connecting the Western Express Highway located about away.[1]

Rail

The nearest Indian Railway stations after this station's completion will be Bandra Terminus, Bandra railway station and Khar Road railway station, all located within a range of - away.[1]

Metro

The nearest metro stations after this station's completion will be Bandra, Income Tax Office, ILFS, BKC and MTNL metro stations of the Yellow and Aqua lines of Mumbai Metro, all of which are also under construction on the Bandra Kurla Complex road.[1]

Air

The station will be located only south from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after its completion.[1]

Ecological conservation efforts

During construction, to ensure safe execution of the deep excavation work, a comprehensive ground support system is being established to prevent soil erosion and degradation. This support system will have the installation of more than 3,300 secant piles, each to extend to a depth of 17-21 metres. The primary ongoing activity at the construction site is the installation of these secant piles, with 14 dedicated piling rigs actively engaged to make the piles.[1]

Future plans

After completion of the station, it was initially planned to make it a starting point as the western terminus of the proposed Mumbai-Hyderabad high-speed rail corridor, but the plan was shelved owing to lack of space and possible environmental impacts. So, that plan was changed to make a new station as the western terminus at the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport, and this plan was changed to make the BKC station as the western terminus for the Mumbai-Nagpur high-speed rail corridor, which is slated to be completed by 2032.[11] [8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Sen. Anindita. Bullet Train Project in India! 32-metre deep BKC station to be ready in 2028, work starts in Mumbai. The Financial Express. 13 September 2023. 2 October 2023. en.
  2. Web site: Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail – Information, Route Map, Fares, Tenders & Updates . www.themetrorailguy.com . The Metro Rail Guy . 22 April 2023 . en.
  3. Web site: Bullet train project at BKC Four bidders submit design and construction bids for high-speed train station . www.hindustantimes.com . Hindustan Times . 22 April 2023 . en . 4 November 2022.
  4. News: MEIL – HCC Wins Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train BKC Station’s Work. The Metro Rail Guy. 28 December 2022. 2 October 2023. en.
  5. Web site: Agreement signed to design, construct bullet train station at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex . www.theprint.in . The Print . 22 April 2023 . en . 20 March 2023.
  6. News: Shinde government instructs MMRDA to hand over BKC land for Bullet train in four weeks. Hindustan Times. 30 August 2022. 2 October 2023. en.
  7. Web site: Joint Feasibility Study for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway Corridor Final Report Volume 6 . www.jica.go.jp . 22 April 2023 . en.
  8. News: Top speed: Railways get DPR on Nagpur-Mumbai Bullet Train project. Nagpur Today. 9 September 2023. 3 October 2023. en.
  9. Web site: Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Bandra Kurla Complex HSR station to have 3 floors, 6 platforms, Metro connectivity . www.dnaindia.com . DNA . 22 April 2023 . en.
  10. News: Aklekar B.. Rajendra. Maharashtra: Designs of four bullet train stations unveiled . Mid-Day. Mumbai. 10 February 2023. 22 April 2023. en.
  11. Web site: Mumbai – Hyderabad High Speed Rail – Information, Route Map, Fares, Tenders & Updates. The Metro Rail Guy. 3 October 2023.