More than four years after it was constructed, the new Bandra Terminus will finally be connected to the old building. The Western Railway has decided to construct a home platform towards Bandra east linking the new building to the old one.

The New Bandra Terminus building was inaugurated on June 10, 2005. Since then a subway was the only connection between the old and new building. “This will be a facelift to Bandra terminus. After the construction of the platform, new building will be directly linked with the old one. This will allow passengers to take advantage of amenities like waiting rooms in the new building,” said a senior WR official.

CP Sharma, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai division, WR, said, “The work will start very soon. Besides constructing maintenance pit, work on route relay interlocking (RRI) system will also start. With RRI system, entire signalling system will be centralised. After we finish the work on Bandra yard, we will start with RRI system. This project will change Bandra terminus in a big way.”

At present, platforms 5 and 6 towards Bandra (W) are also under construction. “Seventy per cent work has been completed on these platforms. Now, platforms 2, 3 and 4 are already operational. Platform no-1, which is dysfunctional will be extended with the construction of new platform,” added Sharma.

Platform no-1 and the new platform will be extended to accommodate 24 coaches train. For extending the platforms, old building will be dismantled from south side. One-storied building will be constructed to house new booking windows there. Total cost of this project is estimated around Rs 28 crore.