Construction at Maharashtra’s Virar bullet train station has reached a pivotal stage, with the successful casting of the first of nine major concrete slabs, according to an official statement released on Wednesday. This development follows closely on the heels of progress at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station.
Each concrete slab measures 50 metres in length, 35.32 metres in width, and has a thickness of 300 millimetres. The casting involved the use of 1,555 cubic metres of concrete. The Virar station is designed to feature two levels—Concourse and Rail—and will boast a total platform length of 425 metres. The station will accommodate four tracks, flanked by two platforms on each side.
The architecture of the Virar station draws inspiration from its hillside setting, with an exterior designed to reflect the natural flow of mountain winds, aiming to blend modern engineering with the surrounding environment.
Across Maharashtra, construction is underway at four key high-speed rail stations—Mumbai, Thane, Virar, and Boisar. The BKC station in Mumbai stands out as the most complex, being constructed 100 feet underground, making it the deepest bullet train station on the route.
This high-speed rail project marks India’s first bullet train corridor, connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad over a stretch of 508 kilometres. The route features 12 stations—four in Maharashtra and eight in Gujarat. BKC is the sole underground station on the line.
While Maharashtra is progressing steadily, Gujarat remains ahead in terms of construction. Recently, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi reported that 300 km of viaduct work near Surat has been completed, with the city’s bullet train station nearing readiness. Trial runs are expected next year, with full passenger operations anticipated by 2029.
Source: News 18
