Arabian Sea, Fishing Nets, Crashing Tides — A Sneak Peek Into What Inspired The Designs Of Four Bullet Train Stations In Maharashtra

Mumbai’s landmark geological features — the Arabian Sea, tides, winds, clouds, fishing net and the waves in oceans have inspired the design of the four stations of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) in Maharashtra.

The designs of four stations — Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Thane, Virar and Boisar — on the high speed corridor commonly known as the Bullet Train project, were revealed last week.

While a few BKC station slides had been released earlier, this is the first time that the entire set of drawings is out.

“We have considered the components and elements around that station while designing them,” said Sushma Gaur, Additional General Manager, Public Relations, National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC)

Bandra Kurla Complex station is the only underground station on the MAHSR corridor and it is planned at a depth of about 24 metres below the ground level. The station will have three floors.

BKC station’s aesthetic has been inspired by clouds and crashing tides of Arabian Sea with diamond-like dots, as the station will come up next to Bharat Diamond Bourse — world’s largest diamond bourse.

Thane Station

Being close to Ulhas River, the roof and entrance building will create an impression of waves.

Further, being close to mangroves, the entrance of the station will be a little away from the platform.  

To account for this, the foramen has been planned in a way such that while coming towards the station, the passengers will see the front side of the station that will be in the form of wave.

Virar Station

The third station at Virar will depict the winds from the mountain. The station is located on a hill and hence everything is planned like that.

Boisar Station

Boisar, the last station of the project in Maharashtra, is a part of the coastal region known as the Konkan with the Arabian Sea forming its western coast, and is primarily inhabited by fishing community.

The station façade is an abstract depiction of fishing nets used by these fishermen — a recognition of the local fishing community in Mumbai's growth story.

The country’s first ‘bullet’ train, a nickname the train gets from its bullet-like shape and speed, will traverse along west India’s landscape, covering 508.17 km distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just about two hours.

The project will have four stations in Maharashtra - Mumbai (BKC), Thane, Virar and Boisar — and eight in Gujarat — Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand/Nadiad, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.