PM Modi to visit Antroli Station today, Ashwini Vaishnaw reviews bullet train project preparations

PM Modi will inspect the preparedness and progress of the work and speak with the workers

Vaishnaw visited Antroli at 6.30 pm and conducted a detailed review of the preparations, assessing the progress of civil works, passenger facilities and security arrangements at the station.

Ashwini Vaishnaw visited Antroli at 6.30 pm and conducted a detailed review of the preparations, assessing the progress of civil works, passenger facilities and security arrangements at the station. (File Photo)

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday reviewed preparations of the High-Speed Bullet Train Station in Surat’s Antroli, one day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit.

Vaishnaw visited Antroli at 6.30 pm and conducted a detailed review of the preparations, assessing the progress of civil works, passenger facilities and security arrangements at the station.

According to sources, PM Modi will land at the Surat airport early on Saturday and board a helicopter to reach Neol village. From there, PM Modi’s convoy will reach Antroli village in Palsana taluka, where the High-Speed Bullet train station is located.

PM Modi will inspect the preparedness and progress of the work and speak with the workers at around 10.00 am. After staying for about 15 minutes, he is expected to fly to the Narmada district.

Antroli Station – the design of which resembles Surat’s glittering diamond industry – is part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSRC).

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The work on the bullet train station is nearing completion, including the laying of the railway tracks. Works such as architectural decoration, elevators, escalators, waiting lounges, kiosks and other passenger facilities are also likely to be completed in the coming days.

Sources said the station is built on three levels and its total height is 26.3 metres with a built-up area of 58,352 sq mts.

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The parking, pick-up and drop-off bays (for cars, buses, and autos), security check, lift, and escalator will be located on the ground floor. A waiting lounge, toilets, a kiosk and a ticket counter will be on the concourse floor. According to sources in the MAHSRC, the construction of the platform on the rail-level floor has been completed.

The total length of MAHSRC will be approximately 508 kilometres, comprising 352 kilometres in Gujarat and DNH (Union Territory) and 156 kilometres in Maharashtra, connecting major cities of both states. About 85 per cent of the Mumbai-to-Ahmedabad bullet train route will be on viaducts, minimising land disturbance. To date, 326 km of viaduct work has been completed and 17 out of 25 river bridges have already been constructed. The project is expected to boost economic activities between Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Sources say the trial run will be carried out between Surat and Bilimora in Navsari, covering approximately 47 kilometres. Work on this track is nearly complete.

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