Railway platform
Both platforms will be around 330 metres long and seven metres wide. The additional infrastructure is expected to provide operational flexibility and facilitate the introduction of around 30 to 40 more local services up to Virar. At Andheri, Western Railway has drawn up a two-phase expansion plan to address congestion at the station, which handles around 4.5 lakh passengers and more than 1,000 suburban train movements daily. The first phase, for which work has begun, includes extending platforms 4 and 5 towards the south. The extension will facilitate reversal of trains from platform 5 towards Virar and provide greater flexibility in train operations. Platforms 6 and 7 will also be extended — by 20 metres towards the south and 10 metres towards the north. Signal S-49 will be shifted southwards, while a new signal will be installed at the northern end of platform 7. The extension of platforms 6 and 7 will enable longer trains, including services such as Flying Ranee, to be accommodated fully on the platform, improving passenger safety and operational flexibility.
Once the works are completed and operational requirements are assessed, additional services, including those up to Virar, can be planned,” said Western Railway’s chief public relations officer Vineet Abhishek. Mumbai: Western Railway will get four additional platforms — two at Borivli and one each at Andheri and Virar — as part of capacity augmentation works aimed at easing congestion and enabling more local services up to Virar. At Borivli, one platform will be built as part of the fifth and sixth lines between Borivli and Virar, while another will be built on the south side as part of the Harbour line extension. At Virar, an additional platform will also be constructed as part of the fifth and sixth-line project. The fifth and sixth lines, being developed as part of the capacity augmentation works, will help segregate train movements and reduce conflicts between suburban and long-distance services. “The additional platforms and the fifth and sixth lines will provide the infrastructure required to increase suburban services.
The second phase includes construction of a new 12-coach home platform alongside the sixth line on the north side of the station. The proposed double-discharge platform will allow passengers arriving on platform 9 to exit directly from either side of the train, including towards Andheri East road. Currently, passengers arriving on platform 9 largely have to use foot overbridges and narrow staircases to exit, resulting in heavy crowding during peak hours. At present, platform 8 handles Virar-Andheri local services, while platform 9 also sees substantial passenger movement.
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