Mumbai: Bullet train terminus at BKC to go underground

MII exhibition

A row over allotment of land for a bullet train terminus at Bandra-Kurla Complex is expected to end soon with the Indian Railways' willingness to go underground to build the facility.

Fadnavis said the land on which the MII exhibition was being held in the Bandra-Kurla Complex would house the IFSC. Pic/Sameer Abedi

This particular land parcel has been a subject of clash because the Maharashtra government wants to build the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) there, instead of giving it away for the bullet train fast corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday put to rest the controversy when he said the Indian Railways top bosses had a discussion with him recently.

"The railways told me that they would go underground for bullet train project and hence will not put the land above to any use. The Centre and state governments will resolve this issue very soon," he told media at the concluding function of Make in India Week at the BKC. He said the railways would be given some land for cutting open the surface to go underground.

When Fadnavis said the land on which the MII exhibition was being held, would house IFSC, media raised questions regarding that place facing a challenge from a similar facility - ‘GIFT City' (Gujarat International Finance Tech City) which is under construction near Ahmedabad.

But Fadnavis appeared unperturbed by the Gujarat initiative. He said two task forces were already working on Mumbai's IFSC. One team comprising representatives from big financial institutions is studying technical aspects, while the second is working on a legal framework.