Delayed for 14 years, Kurla Subway to be ready for use by December

The construction of subway passing underneath Kurla station will begin soon, after a delay of nearly 14 years. Ongoing work on the subway is slated to be completed by December 2016, inquiries by RTI activist Anil Galgali revealed.

The Railway and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) have teamed up to finish the much-delayed project, entailing a fresh cost Rs 5.05 crore. On completion, this subway will provide a much-needed link between the eastern and western sides to one of the busiest suburban thoroughfares in Mumbai.

Executive Engineer (Construction) of Central Railway, K. Prabhakaran said that M/s Mahesh Roopchandani of Solapur has been awarded the contract for construction by the Railways. Central Railway will provide an additional fund of Rs 2.11 crore for the project. The construction was started on 21 October 2014 and the Central Railway had earlier spent Rs 3.84 crore on the 129.9-metre tunnel, running under the mainline and Harbour line tracks. This 7.60 metre wide tunnel with a height of 2.6 metres was constructed 14 years ago. But the work was never completed and the tunnel remained closed to public.

The MCGM had been entrusted the responsibility of construction of the approach road to the western side of subway, which would have cost Rs 2.94 crore. Executive Engineer (Bridge) of Eastern Suburb, MCGM, FA Chavhan said, “The work has already officially begun in the month of February this year and is to be completed in a period of nine months, excluding the rainy months.”