Virar-Dahanu rail project almost half complete; work on key bridges speeds up

The key project of VirarDahanu rail quadrupling which promises to boost Western Railways Mumbai train services in a major way has now completed 47 per cent physical progressIt promises to segregate suburban and outstation trains and allow for seamless travelAnnouncing the update Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation MRVC on Tuesday said all major statutory approvals including land acquisition environmental clearances and forest clearances have been obtainedThe project has a sanctioned cost of Rs 3578 crore Physical progress has reached 47 per centldquoEntire private land government land and forest land required for the project have been acquired and work has commenced in all sections including forest and mangrove areas Major construction activities such as earthwork bridge construction station redevelopment and utility buildings are in full progress Over 88 per cent of earthwork has been completed and more than 50 bridges and road underbridges have already been constructed Important Bridges No 92 and 93 which are critical structures on this corridor are advancing steadily with piling substructure and superstructure works underwayrdquo MRVC chief PRO Sunil Udasi told middayStation redevelopment progressldquoStation redevelopment works are progressing across key stations including Virar Vaitarna Saphale Kelve Road Palghar Umroli Boisar Vangaon and Dahanu Road New station buildings platforms foot overbridges staff quarters signalling buildings and passenger amenities are at various stages of completion with several facilities already handed over for operational userdquo he addedAt Virar station major remodelling works are in progress including widening of Platform 3A construction of elevated decks and reconfiguration of platforms to support future ChurchgateDahanu suburban servicesOverall the project is progressing in a planned manner with coordinated execution across civil electrical signalling and track works while ensuring safety and minimal disruption to existing train operationsTwo key bridges near VaitarnaConstruction of two crucial railway bridges on the VirarDahanu Road quadrupling project is progressing steadily near Vaitarna on the Western Railway corridor officials saidThe project being executed by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation MRVC is aimed at enhancing suburban train capacity and improving service reliability on the northern stretch of WR MumbaiTwo key bridges mdash Bridge No 92 and Bridge No 93 mdash form critical links in the corridor and will carry additional suburban tracks once completedAt Bridge No 92 most of the foundation and pillar work has been completed with girder and deck slab casting and launching currently underway in stages ldquoProtection works including toe wall piling are also progressing indicating that the bridge is nearing completion of its main structural componentsWork on Bridge No 93 is also advancing with piling activity in progress at multiple locationsMore than threequarters of the total piling work has already been completed while pier pier cap and girder construction is being carried out in a phased mannerrdquo Udasi saidEarthwork and stability measuresldquoEarthwork and embankment preparation at the bridge approaches are continuing alongside the structural works Due to challenging soil conditions and proximity to water bodies it requires special construction methods at the site So far over 56 lakh cubic metres of earthwork has been completed along with groundstrengthening measures to ensure longterm track stability Work is progressing in both island and nonisland areas despite difficult terrainrdquo he saidOnce commissioned the additional lines enabled by these bridges are expected to allow more suburban services between Virar and Dahanu Road easing congestion and improving passenger comfort Authorities said construction is being carried out in coordination with multiple agencies while ensuring safety and minimal disruption to existing train operationsProject outlookldquoThe VirarDahanu Road quadrupling project is progressing steadily with nearly half of the physical work already completed This project will significantly enhance suburban rail capacity beyond Virar MRVC is executing the works with a strong focus on safety quality and minimal disruption to ongoing train operationsrdquo Udasi added