Stations add 147 acres of vertical space

17 railway stations on the suburban network are getting elevated decks with various amenities

- Shashank Rao

MUMBAI: Just when it seemed Mumbai's suburban railway stations were ready to buckle under the relentless tide of commuters, the railways have pulled off the unthinkable in this space-starved city. More than 6.43 lakh sq ft, or 147 acres, the equivalent of nearly six Azad Maidan grounds, is being added to suburban stations on both the Western and Central Railways, under the Station Improvement Project being executed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC).

The project, launched in February 2024 and costing an estimated ₹947 crore, is seeing the construction of massive elevated decks above railway platforms, which will not only improve railway infrastructure but decongest Mumbai's notoriously overcrowded stations. These elevated decks will accommodate ticket counters, toilets, food stalls, commercial spaces including shops, seating arrangements and other amenities. Connecting to foot overbridges, skywalks, staircases and escalators, they will give suburban stations a massive upgrade and crowd management.

Work is underway at 17 stations on both railways, with the elevated decks being partially opened to the public at Kandivali, Ghatkopar and Khar Road stations. Work is also underway at Neral and Govandi, among other stations.

The Station Improvement Project was launched after elevated decks were built at Andheri, Goregaon and Borivali stations on a trial basis. The deck at Andheri was constructed in 2019 as the number of commuters swelled after the Andheri Metro 1 station, which connects with Andheri railway station, became operational. Elevated decks were also built on a trial basis at Borivali and Goregaon stations, followed by Ghatkopar and Khar Road. With their thumping success, the railways realised they could create additional space, literally out of thin air, and replicate the idea across the entire length of their suburban sections.