Jogeshwari to Become Second Maintenance Depot for Vande Bharat Trains in Mumbai

Jogeshwari is all set to house a new terminus and a maintenance depot for the future air-conditioned (AC) Vande Bharat sleeper trains. The Western Railway (WR) has received an initial amount of INR 20 lakh from the interim general budget. The construction of the depot is estimated to cost around INR 60 crore.

The depot is planned to be situated between the Jogeshwari and Ram Mandir railway stations. The tender process for the depot is expected to begin soon. The city already has one depot for Vande Bharat trains in Wadi Bunder.

In the fiscal year 2021–2022, bids were reopened for the construction and maintenance of 200 energy-efficient Vande Bharat Trains. The Railway Board asked all zones to thoroughly investigate potential sites for the construction and modernisation of Vande Bharat train repair infrastructure.

The depot will serve as a maintenance hub for the next-gen Vande Bharat semi-high-speed trains. The Indian Railway had shortlisted two locations, Mumbai Central and Jogeshwari, for the depot. However, Jogeshwari was chosen for more space.

The depot will feature ten distinct washing lines for the Vande Bharat trains. A new coaching terminus, costing around INR 69 crore, is also planned for Jogeshwari. The terminus will be equipped with an island platform that is 600 metres long and 12 metres wide, with tracks on both sides. This will cater to 24-car trains when they terminate.

The new terminus is expected to benefit passengers travelling long distances by rail to Gujarat. It will be particularly beneficial for residents and visitors of places like Borivali, Andheri, Vasai, Kandivali, and some of the northwest suburbs, as they will no longer have to travel far to reach Bandra Terminus, Dadar, and Mumbai Central.

The Central Railway (CR) has already begun construction at Wadi Bunder to establish a facility for Vande Bharat train maintenance. The Wadi Bunder coaching depot was originally built in 1882. It is currently being renovated to store and maintain the Vande Bharat rakes. An additional INR 54 crore is being spent on pit line setup, the construction of sheds, and rail links.