Title - 12-car trains on Harbour line by ’14 Platform Extension at CST, Dockyard Rd, Reay Rd A Challenge

Twelve-car trains on theHarbour line areexpected to be a reality in the next two-and-a-half years as the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has finalized its plan toextend platforms at various stations to accommodate the augmented rakes. The projectwillbeexecutedby MRVC.

    On Monday, the MRVC made a presentation of the proposed work to Central Railway general manager SubodhJain. A senior MRVC official said, “There are no serious challenges involved, except at CST, Dockyard Road station and Reay Road station, where length of the platforms needs to be extended. The project work is expected to begin soon after monsoon. We are confident of running the 12-car services on Harbour line before theendof 2014.”

    At CST, major alterations will have to be made to the yard, signal and telecom and the overhead wire. The official said, “We areexploring twooptions. One is we may let platform number 1 remain as it is and only extend the length of platform number 2 to allow passengers to board the augmented three compartments from thePanvel-endof the platform. The other option is that we extend both the platforms, wheretheHarbor lineservices originate andterminate.”

    However,in order toextend the length of both the platforms, the MRVC will require moretime andwillhavetotake an extended block of 15 days. During this block, Harbour line services will not operate from CST’s platform number 1 and 2. Instead, the trains will operate for platform number 3 and 4, thus impacting the frequency of services on both Harbour andMain line.

    The work involves removal of stabling line and cross-over (where trains interchange track to enter and exit platforms). The width of platform number 2 will be marginally cutfor slewing of tracks.

    “The platform number 1 track will come slightly eastward to create more space on the west to build a 3-m wide extension to accommodatethe12-car trains. Similarly, a portion of platform number 3 will be slightly shaved off to bring the trackeastward,” he added.

    The official further said, “Wewilltry to reducethe number of blocks by ensuring faster work. We will be using precast material and will ensure all other stuff is brought to the site well in advance. However, thefinaldecision on the project will be taken only after an approvalfrom theCR.”

    The other challenge lies at DockyardRoadstation where a portion of a hill, adjacent to platform number 1towardsthe CST-end will have to be cut to create space for the extension. The second option is to redesign the girder at the Panvelend to extend the platform northward.

    At Reay Road, the authorities plan todemolishtheexisting platforms to pave way for an island platform.Theofficial said, “Somelandwillhavetobe acquired from the Mumbai Port Trust towards the Panvelend. We will compensate them by handing over an equivalent portion of our land from the northside.”

ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Number of coaches required to convert 9-car services to 12-car: 153

Estimated cost of the project, including the rolling stock: 800 crore

Number of services on the Harbour line: 585

Work to begin on ground: October 2012

Deadline for the project: 2014

At CST, if both platform no. 1 and 2 are extended, the MRVC will have to take an extended block of 15 days. The block will affect the Harbour and Main line services as all trains will operate from platform no. 3 and 4