State allocates BMC land for bullet train at BKC

The 0.9-hectare plot is set to be used for a railway station

A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe perform the groundbreaking ceremony for a bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, the state government has agreed to allocate 0.9 hectares of land at BandraKurla Complex (BKC) required for the railway station, but with certain preconditions.

In a government resolution (GR) issued by the home department (transport) on Tuesday, conditions have been set as to the cost of the land at BKC to be allocated by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The GR says that it should be considered “included” in the state governments share in the project.

The state has asked the Centre and railway ministry to adjust the Rs 125 crore preliminary share of the state in the Ahmedabad Mumbai bullet train project with the cost of the plot of land in BKC.

Besides this, a senior official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that the state government wants Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) to fund the Mumbai-Nagpur bullet train project on the same lines as the Ahmedabad-Mumbai project.

The Railways will conduct a feasibility survey for the Mumbai-Nagpur bullet train project and give its approval for the same.

The GR further states that the construction of the railway station at BKC should not adversely affect the construction of the proposed International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and its economic viability. Furthermore, the state wants the Centre and Railways to ensure that the entry and exit of the bullet train station, ventilation system should be constructed within the 0.9-hectares plot allocated by the MMRDA.

The GR states that the railway ministry should first explore the viability of alternate site at Dharavi and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus which are recommended by the state including BKC itself. However, if the alternate site is not viable then only the 0.9 hectares of land at BKC be considered. However, the state government to make matters cumbersome for the railways as state has already approved allocation of 50.31 hectares of land at BKC for the IFSC.

The official said that in a first meeting of the subcommittee on July 23, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had informed senior railway officials that the state will not allow them station on the land allocated for IFSC.

However, after telephonic call from Modi, Fadnavis agreed to allocate 0.9hectares land, reserved for the IFSC.