MMRDA to construct pocket track at Mumbai’s Bhakti Park Metro Line 4 station

Explaining the need for a pocket track, the MMRDA said there would be a possibility of trains from Mogharpada depot running empty till CSMT in the morning hours as the Metro Line 4 (Wadala-Kasarvadavali) ‘train operation plan’ has been combined with three other connecting metro lines, namely Metro 11 (Wadala–CSMT), Metro 4A (Kasarvadavali – Gaimukh), and Metro 10 (Gaimukh and Shivaji Chowk, Mira Road). The pocket track has been proposed to resolve this issue so that the trains can park off the mainline instead of going all the way till the last station on the metro line.

Accordingly, two portal piers (constructed at a height over a barge) were supposed to be constructed at the Bhakti Park Metro station for the pocket track. However, one track fell in the mangrove protected area. Hence instead of constructing two portal piers it was decided to construct one cantilever pier (beams sticking out from piers toward each other and when joined form a span) for which an additional Rs 33.85 crore is required, said the MMRDA.

The Metro Line 4 is currently more than 41 per cent ready and expected to be opened in a phased manner. The first phase between Kapubawadi to JVLR is expected to be ready by December next year and the second phase by June 2025. This line alone is expected to carry a daily ridership of 12.13 lakh once fully operational.

Similarly, the Metro Lines 4A is under construction and over 45 per cent of the work is complete and is expected to be operational by June 2025.