Mumbai: 8 stations on Central, Western railways get booster dose for development

Mumbai: Station development projects of eight stations of suburban railway section of Central and Western Railways got a booster dose on Thursday.

"Financial bid for the development of 18 suburban stations opened on July 7th 2022. Out of 18 stations devlopers shown interest in the development projects of 8 stations. These stations includes Mulund, Dombivali, Neral and Kasara of Central line and Mumbai Central, Santacruze, Kandivali and Mira Road of Western line," said an official of the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC).

For the development projects of Ghatkopar Vikhroli Bhandup, GTB Nagar, Chembur, Govandi, Mankhurd on Central and Harbour line and Bhayender, Vasai and Nalasopara no one shown interest. Fresh tender will be invited for the development of these stations again by MRVC in coming moths .

"Earlier tenders for the stations development projects of 18 suburban stations were floted by MRVC. Approximate cost of development of 18 station is around Rs .950 crore. These 18 stations were divided into seven lots," said an officer of MRVC.

He added that Ghatkopar, Vikhroli and Bhandup were included in lot number one, Mulund and Dombivali into lot number two, Neral and Kasara in lot number three, GTB Nagar, Chembur, Govandi and Mankhurd in lot number four, Mumbai Central and Santacruze in lot number five, Kandivali and Mira Road in lot number six and Bhayender, Vasai and Nalasopara in lot number seven.

"Responses have been received in four lots out of seven lots.These are lot number 2, 5, 6 and 3," said Sunil Udasi, Chief Public Relations Officer of MRVC.

"Finalisation of tenders will be done after the financial evaluation,” he added. According to sources one bid each has been received in lot 2, 5 and 6 and three bids have been received for lot number three.

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) will be improving stations, constructing FOBs, elevated decks, inter-connecting with FOBs and skywalks, developing green spaces and other improvements as part of Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-3A.

“We are also including the smaller stations which see lesser footfall and that needs an upgrade,” said a senior railway official.

There are a total of 119 stations on the Mumbai Suburban Railway System and according to rail officials, most of the stations are more than 80 years old and highly congested.

Salient features of Station Development work:

⚫ Deck on platforms

⚫ Interconnecting all FOBs

⚫ Additional/rebuilding FOBs on need basis

⚫ Widening/Extension &/or New PLatform

⚫ More escalators, elevators and indicators

⚫ Green Patches, Horticulture works

⚫ Relocation of structures to ease commuter movement