Shri Vaishnaw emphasized that all redevelopment work must proceed without causing inconvenience to passengers or disrupting train services. He underscored the importance of developing future-ready railway infrastructure while ensuring smooth daily operations at each station.
The meeting targeted addressing current congestion and increasing capacity for future growth. Discussions focused on improving passenger convenience via additional platforms, wider foot over bridges (FOBs), enhanced inter-platform transfers, more station entry and exit points, better circulation, multimodal integration, and seamless passenger flow.
The Minister directed engagement with Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, local bodies, state governments, and other stakeholders in upcoming planning phases to incorporate local needs into final redevelopment designs.
Modern construction techniques including precast components and advanced systems were highlighted to accelerate project execution with high quality. Officials were tasked with ensuring effective use of allocated funds and timely completion of projects.
Borivali Railway Station, a major passenger interchange hub on Western Railway, currently handles about 191 long-distance and around 1,200 suburban train services daily, serving approximately 365,000 passengers. The integrated redevelopment plan includes one additional platform, expanded concourse areas, more lifts and escalators, improved foot overbridges and skywalks, better passenger circulation, and expanded parking facilities to ease congestion and enhance safety.
To further manage traffic and improve operations, parallel development of Kandivali station, located about 2 km from Borivali, was approved. This includes multi-level parking, dedicated pick-up/drop-off zones, improved road connectivity, transit-oriented development, and integration with metro and road networks to establish a seamless multimodal transport system.
The Ambala Cantonment station, which handles over 328 trains and more than 44,000 passengers daily, will receive two new full-length platforms, a 12-meter-wide FOB, additional escalators and lifts, platform refurbishments, new sheds, and surface parking improvements to accommodate rising traffic and enhance passenger movement, especially for elderly and Divyangjan passengers.
Mangaluru Central station, serving about 28,000 passengers and around 50 trains daily, will undergo redevelopment featuring two new full-length platforms, a new 6-meter-wide FOB, upgraded platforms and shelters, and additional escalators and lifts. This aims to improve accessibility, reduce crowding, and support future passenger growth.
The redevelopment projects at Borivali, Ambala, and Mangaluru are expected to significantly enhance passenger experience, increase operational capacity, and strengthen station infrastructure. These plans will advance to detailed examination and stakeholder consultation before implementation.
