Concrete base slab completed for BKC bullet train station

Concrete base slab completion at Bandra Kurla Complex lays the groundwork for India’s first subterranean bullet train station, increasing urban connectivity.

The casting of the initial concrete base slab at the Mumbai station in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is now complete, marking an important milestone in India’s first bullet train project. This station, the sole subterranean stop on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, is a wonder of engineering, designed to be 32 meters below ground—equivalent to a 10-story building—and built using the novel bottom-up method.

Excavation began at ground level, and concrete work progressed from the foundation up. “This is the first of 69 slabs to be cast, marking the deepest level of construction for the station,” states National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) officials.

The station will have three floors: platform, concourse, and service areas, with the platform located 24 meters below ground. Six platforms, each about 415 meters long, will handle the 16-coach bullet trains. The station will also offer complete accessibility to Mumbai Metro 2B and the road network, with two designated entry and departure points: one near the MTNL building for road access and one linking to the metro station.

Bandra Kurla Complex, already a thriving major commercial zone built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is set to earn even more significance with the bullet train station. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train line is 508 kilometres long and will have 12 stops, four of which—Thane, Virar, Surat, and Sabarmati—are designated for Transit-Orientated Development (TOD). These changes are projected to stimulate economic activity, improve urban mobility, and make the bullet train an essential link for commuters and enterprises alike.

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