Mumbai: Railway stir called off as Vaishnaw reviews bullet train progress

Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewing the bullet train work

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday announced that after completion of strengthening of walls of India's first underground bullet train station at BKC, work on the station walls had started even as the construction of the lowest B3 basement was also at a crucial stage.

The agitation planned by motormen on the Central Railway was withdrawn late on Saturday after a mediation meeting between the Additional Divisional Railway Manager, CR, Mumbai, and the motormen's union led to assurances that all demands would be looked into.

The motormen were protesting against "increased duty pressure" and the installation of cameras under a new system called the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in local train's driving cabs. CR administration clarified that the ADAS and the Crew Voice and Video Recording System (CVVRS) systems would be used solely for constructive feedback and counselling, not for punitive purposes.

The 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (bullet train) stretch has a 21-km-long India's first underground/undersea tunnel between Mumbai Bullet Train underground station at Bandra-Kurla Complex and Shilphata. The platform is planned at a depth of about 24 mtrs from the ground level.