Mumbai: Kandivli station eases rush with new 132-metre elevated deck

The elevated deck is situated above platform 1 of Kandivli station

Crush hour is set to get easier at Kandavli station - one of the Western Railway's busiest stations - where a 132-metre elevated deck located above platform one has been thrown open to the public.

The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd (MRVC) on Saturday launched the deck on the north end of the station. It runs parallel to the station and measures 10.4 metres in width.

The new elevated deck, situated above the existing platform 1, will act as a major dispersal corridor, easing the pressure on existing foot overbridges (FOBs) and helping streamline commuter flow, particularly during peak hours. Stalls will also move from the platforms to this deck, similar to the changes at Andheri and Goregaon stations.

This is in addition to four new FOBs, six staircases, and two escalators. Another 100-metre deck connecting the south end to the north and middle FOBs is currently under construction.

"Despite the heavy rush and operational limitations typical of Mumbai's suburban railway, MRVC continues to execute works in a phased manner, ensuring both safety and uninterrupted train services," Sunil Udasi, chief public relations officer, MRVC, told Sunday mid-day.

The Kandivli upgrade marks another milestone under MRVC's ambitious Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-3A) initiative, which focuses on creating safe, accessible, and integrated suburban stations. The project aims to address long-standing issues of overcrowding and inefficient circulation at key stations by introducing wider decks, better connectivity, and modern commuter amenities.

Other amenities being introduced in a phased manner at the station include a 10-metre-wide FOB at the south end for smooth connectivity across platforms, two new skywalks linking old and new FOBs for better circulation, six new staircases and five escalators, as well as two lifts.