Railways and metropolitan authority in talks over BKC land for Mumbai-Ahmedabad train terminus
Although the state government and railways have agreed to sit together to discuss the location of a bullet train terminal in Mumbai, the fact remains that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which owns the land in Bandra Kurla Complex, has still not received any formal plans from the railways about the project.
"There have been some rounds of discussions between the ministry of railways and the state authorities, but till now they have not sent us any formal plans for bullet train — on how much land will be needed and where will the entry-exit points be," informed a source.
During the meeting, a railway official said that only an area of the size of two rooms will be needed to have entry and exit points to the terminal. But the MMRDA officials are of the opinion that the actual need for land will be much more than two rooms, if the bullet train terminal is established as there will be need for space for ventilation shafts and auxiliary systems. Moreover, there cannot be only two entry and exit points but the actual need will be much more. "If a metro rail station has at least four entry-exit staircases or escalators, for bullet train terminal it has to be a minimum of half a dozen," said an MMRDA official.
Even on Thursday, the delegations of the state and railway officials had met led by railway minister Suresh Prabhu and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis wherein the state kept its foot down stating that financial district's plot is needed by the MMRDA. The development authority needs the plot to establish International Finance Service Centre (IFSC) and generate revenue to fund infrastructure and transport projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
If this plot is shared or given for the Rs98,000-crore worth Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, it will dent the financial earnings of MMRDA, which means much less funds for projects in MMR.
If an underground terminal is made on the same plot as IFSC, it will cut down on basement parking floors and even the overall plot area for the IFSC.
An official shared that Prabhu agreed to the challenges for the state and may even take up the issue with Prime Minister's Office.
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