Commuters at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) will soon enjoy direct access to the Aqua Line metro station through a state-of-the-art underground pedestrian subway. Stretching 365 meters, the subway will streamline movement and provide seamless transitions between the two major transit modes. Starting from platform number 1 at CSMT, the subway's endpoint will be Azad Maidan metro station. Funding for the project will be a joint effort between the Maharashtra government and Indian Railways. The subway will boast modern amenities, including travelators, lifts, escalators, refreshment sections, and toilet blocks, ensuring a comfortable travel experience for all.
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Mumbai's iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is set to offer a seamless commuting experience as passengers of the Central Railway (CR) will soon gain direct access to the underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 Aqua Line station. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) has revealed that the state government has given the green light for the construction of an underground pedestrian subway connecting the CSMT and the metro station.
Spanning an impressive 365 meters, this new pathway aims to not only streamline passenger movement but also facilitate easy transitions between two vital modes of public transit. Starting from platform number 1 of CSMT, the pedestrian subway will pass beneath the Himalaya Bridge, culminating at Azad Maidan, where the CSMT metro station is currently being developed.
The convenience of this direct link between the two major stations, however, will be limited to commuters of the Central Railway and Metro-3, as accessing the underground subway will require punching or swiping an access card at the entry points. An MMRCL spokesperson revealed, "The state government has approved an underground access-controlled pedestrian subway which will be constructed by us. We will work out its engineering and technical feasibility. Its cost shall be shared by the Maharashtra government and the Indian Railway."
While the project is still in its early stages, MMRCL officials emphasized that providing specific details such as construction cost, start date, and completion deadline is challenging at this point. However, the proposed design indicates that the underground subway will start from the CSMT station's platform 1 end, crossing beneath the road and the Himalaya Bridge, before reaching the Azad Maidan metro station on the Aqua Line-3.
The underground pathway is expected to serve as a major boon for daily commuters, significantly enhancing their mobility by offering a seamless transition between the railway and metro systems. Travelators akin to those found at Mumbai's airport, along with lifts, escalators, refreshment sections, and toilet facilities, are some of the features planned for the subway.
Authorities are optimistic that this new underground connection will reduce congestion on the roads, as passengers will no longer need to surface and walk outside to switch between railway and metro services. Comparisons have been drawn to the CSMT subway, constructed in 1999, which covers an area of 2870 square meters at a cost of approximately ?15 crore. The access control gates in the new subway will deter hawkers and vendors from occupying the area, unlike the current situation at CSMT's subway.
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