Standard Post with Image

Andheri, The Next Railway Hub in Mumbai

  • With the rail budget formally approving the Churchgate-Virar elevated corridor on the western line, three corridors — the existing rail lines, the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro and the elevated corridor — will meet at Andheri, one level above the other, making the station a rail hub.

  • While the existing station will continue to be at the ground level, the Metro lines will pass over the rail lines above them. The proposed two-line elevated corridor that envisages running of 15-car air-conditioned trains will pass above the Metro lines, almost 20 metres high, having a station on the top.“The elevated corridor will be passing above these two lines. Eventually, when these three lines are fully operational, it would be prudent to have a single three-tier station withfully-equipped amenities and commercial complex,’’ a senior railway planner said, on conditionofanonymity.

  • Currently, the railways are developing and upgrading Andheri station to build a swank structure, while the Mumbai Metro engineers are building their own elevated station building outside Andheri east.The 2012-13 railway budget had announced that the 63-km elevated corridor between Churchgate-Virar will run above the existing corridor. Planned to be financed through a public-private partnership, the estimated cost of the line is Rs15,500 crore. It will also pave the way for running premium air-conditioned services on the suburban network.

  • A pre-feasibility survey for a similar 55-km-long elevated corridor on the Mumbai CST-Kalyan sector will also be taken up.The Churchgate-Virar elevated corridor was first proposed by former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in 2007.According to the railway’s project document, a two-track elevated corridor with a capacity to run 15-coach trains at a maximum frequency of 90 seconds has been proposed above the existing corridor.

  • As the buildings near Charni Road and Grant Road stations obstruct the path, the consultant has suggested an underground corridor for that stretch, between Grant Road and Churchgate and ahead to the Oval Maidan, if it is extended.“A common station for all three like those abroad will be an obvious project for better integration and commuter convenience,’’ the planner added.

Source