Elevated platforms at Kurla for new rail lines

Harbour line platforms will now be nine metres above ground level to accommodate the new fifth and sixth railway lines; project may take two years.

After Parel, it will be Kurla’s harbour line platforms that will undergo an overhaul. The Central Railway (CR) is planning to elevate both harbour line platforms to make way for proposed fifth and sixth railway line between Kurla and Parel.

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The existing platforms will be elevated eight to nine metres above ground, so that fifth and sixth line can be connected to the existing harbour line tracks at Kurla, and can be taken further into the main line section.

“There will be an elevated deck attached to the platforms at Kurla. The deck will also have a ticket booking counter,” said a senior railway official, requesting anonymity.

To connect these platforms, the CR will lay a 1.5-km elevated track line between Chunnabhati and Tilak Nagar, similar to the one between Sandhurst Road and Cotton Green stations.

The elevation of platforms at Kurla will take place over the next two years, alongside the construction work at Parel Terminus. Both projects are part of the ‘fifth and sixth line project’ between Kurla and CST.

The design, construction plans and budgets for the project, which will cost Rs920 crore, have been prepared and will be forwarded to Railway Board by next month. If the Board clears the plans immediately, the CR will commence work at Parel terminus by March 2013, and complete it by December 2014.

“Considering the rapid commercial development around Parel, construction of a terminus here is important for public convenience. Thereby, we will request the Board to approve this project immediately so that we can commence work on priority,” said a senior official, requesting anonymity.