Mumbai – Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s recent visit to Mumbai drew attention not only for the inspection of the bullet train site at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) but also for the carefully chosen travel route. The decision to prioritize Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel over the shorter Bandra East-BKC route revealed a deeper problem—unchecked traffic congestion and auto-rickshaw menace outside Bandra East station.
To accommodate Vaishnaw and a Japanese delegation led by Japan’s minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, Hiromasa Nakano, a special six-coach Vande Bharat train was allocated from Surat to Mumbai. Instead of halting at Bandra, the train stopped at Khar, allowing both an inspection of the upgraded Khar station and a smoother onward drive to BKC. This decision underscored the complexities of Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel.
Why the Khar Stop Was Chosen?
Officials explained that the main reason for choosing Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel was to avoid embarrassment from the traffic mess at Bandra East. The station area, plagued by unruly auto drivers and illegal parking, often leads to severe congestion.
Railway sources admitted that clearing the situation for dignitaries would have been more difficult than rerouting. At the same time, the upgraded Khar station—with its 5,000-square-meter elevated deck—offered an opportunity for inspection. The Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel decision, therefore, achieved both objectives effectively.
The Auto Rickshaw Menace at Bandra East
For over 15 years, Bandra East has been grappling with chaotic traffic outside its station. The core reason lies in indiscriminate sharing of auto stands and unregulated behavior by drivers. Veteran auto union leaders argue that neither the RTO nor traffic police have been able to find a long-term fix.
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The problem directly influenced Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel, as railway officials wanted to shield visiting dignitaries from the scene of disorder. Reports highlight that more than 1,000 auto rickshaws occupy the area, with around 5% operating illegally. They block foot-over-bridge exits, overcharge passengers, and create bottlenecks during rush hours.
Commuters Speak Out
Daily commuters to BKC have long been frustrated. One frequent traveler noted walking to the Western Express Highway just to find a reasonable ride, as most rickshaws either refused internal BKC trips or demanded inflated fares.
These ground realities reinforced the choice of Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel, sparking wider debate on why no permanent measures have been taken against the menace. Intermittent drives against errant drivers by authorities have proven ineffective, with the situation resuming within hours.
Khar Station Upgrade on Display
The decision to prioritize Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel also served as a showcase for the newly upgraded Khar station. With the largest elevated deck among Western Railway suburban stations, the complex now includes three lifts, five escalators, and accessible ramps.
This upgrade is expected to be replicated at other suburban stations, marking Khar as a model of modernization. For Vaishnaw and the Japanese delegation, Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel highlighted progress in passenger infrastructure alongside the bullet train inspection.
The Bullet Train Station Progress
Following Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel, the delegation visited the underground bullet train site at BKC. Excavation has already reached 84% of the required 18.7 lakh cubic meters, equivalent to a 10-storey building’s depth at 32.5 meters.
Plans include three floors with six platforms, a concourse, and service areas. Each 415-meter platform will connect seamlessly to metro and road networks, with skylight features for natural lighting. Tunnel boring machine components have already arrived at the site.
The Broader Implications
The Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel episode underlines two parallel realities in Mumbai—cutting-edge projects like bullet trains on one hand, and unaddressed local commuting problems on the other. While dignitaries avoided Bandra East chaos, millions of daily commuters continue to grapple with it.
The travel choice shed light on the urgent need for coordinated action involving RTO, traffic police, unions, and civic bodies to resolve long-standing bottlenecks. Until then, rerouting strategies like Ashwini Vaishnaw Khar to BKC Travel will remain a temporary workaround.
