Mumbai set to get its first underground railway station at Byculla
Mumbai Set to Get Its First Underground Railway Station at Byculla
Mumbai set to get its first - Mumbai may soon witness the introduction of its inaugural underground suburban railway station at Byculla, as part of a major expansion initiative on the Central Railway network. The project hinges on the approval of an underground route linking Parel and CSMT, which would form a critical segment of the city’s broader suburban rail development efforts.
Expansion and Phases
The initiative involves extending the fifth and sixth railway lines across a 17.5-km stretch between Kurla and CSMT. Phase I, covering Kurla to Parel, is already in progress, while Phase II, from Parel to CSMT, remains under evaluation. A key objective of the project is to separate suburban and long-distance services, enhancing efficiency on the network.
The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), managing the project, is exploring the possibility of constructing an underground tunnel for the fast suburban service connecting Parel and CSMT, including a stop at Byculla. This decision aims to address the difficulties associated with land acquisition, a significant hurdle for above-ground infrastructure in densely populated areas.
"We have appointed a private consultant to study the feasibility of the project. The first round of discussions has taken place," said an MRVC official.
Technical Feasibility and Consultancy
A Japanese firm, PADECO, is tasked with analyzing the engineering viability, geological conditions, and tunnel alignment for the proposed underground corridor. The study will also assess the potential for establishing an underground station at Byculla. Should the plan proceed, the current Byculla station will continue to serve slower trains, while the new underground facility will handle faster services.
Suburban trains are deemed more suitable for underground operations due to their ability to navigate steeper gradients, a feature essential for the proposed tunnel. The tunnel would be constructed 20 to 25 metres below the existing rail corridor, avoiding the need for new land acquisitions and reducing associated costs.
Link to Metro Projects
The feasibility study will also evaluate the alignment of Mumbai’s Metro 11, which spans from Wadala to Colaba. This metro line includes an underground section between Byculla and Nagpada, Bhendi Bazaar, and CSMT. Engineers will examine how the corridor can integrate with existing utilities like power cables and stormwater drains.
"The metro project demonstrated that large-scale tunnelling is possible even in the most congested parts of Mumbai. We are now examining whether a similar approach can be adopted for suburban railway lines," said a senior CR official.
Challenges and Costs
One of the main challenges cited by officials is the limited availability of land for constructing additional above-ground tracks. The Parel-CSMT route traverses historic neighborhoods, where acquiring land is costly and relocating residents is complex. If the above-ground option is pursued, the railway estimates rehabilitating nearly 550 people would be necessary.
The project, initially sanctioned in 2008 with a cost of ₹890.89 crore, has since grown to approximately ₹1,337 crore. Officials note that an underground variant could increase the budget to around ₹3,000 crore, nearly doubling the initial estimate.