The much-anticipated Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has marked a significant milestone with the completion of 52% excavation work for the underground Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station. This station, set to be the only underground facility in the entire corridor, is progressing steadily as the National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) continues its ambitious efforts to transform Mumbai’s transport infrastructure.
The underground station, planned to be 32 meters deep, is an engineering marvel requiring the excavation of an impressive 18.7 lakh cubic metres of earth. With more than half of the excavation work completed, the project is progressing on track. Speaking on the progress, Vivek Kumar Gupta, Managing Director of NHSRCL, highlighted the complexity of the task. “The Mumbai Bullet Train station is the only underground station in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor. Building this 32-meter-deep station in the heart of Bandra Kurla Complex involves excavating about 18.7 lakh cubic meters of earth, out of which 52% excavation is already completed,” Gupta said.
A notable achievement in the project is the completion of the first concrete base slab on November 30, 2024. This slab, cast at a depth equivalent to that of a 10-storey building, marks a crucial milestone in the station’s construction. The station’s construction employs the bottom-up method, where excavation begins from the surface level, and work progresses upwards from the foundation. The first base slab, measuring 30 metres in length and 20 metres in width, is 3.5 metres deep, using 681 MT of high-grade steel and 2254 cubic metres of M60 grade concrete. Further enhancing the project’s scale, the slab pouring involved precise temperature control, maintained below 25°C through in-situ ice and chiller plants. Waterproofing measures have been put in place to ensure the durability of the structure.
Once completed, the BKC Bullet Train Station will feature six platforms, each around 415 meters long, designed to accommodate a 16-coach bullet train. The station will offer seamless connectivity to the Metro and road networks, with planned entry and exit points facilitating easy access to Metro Line 2B and the MTNL building. The BKC station is designed with spacious concourses and platforms to ensure smooth passenger movement. Notably, the station’s architecture incorporates skylight provisions for natural lighting, enhancing both aesthetic appeal and sustainability. With excavation work progressing rapidly and key milestones being achieved, the BKC station promises to be a key hub in the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project, which aims to revolutionise travel in India with faster, greener, and more efficient transportation.
