Gujarat-Maharashtra Plan Japan-Style Commercial Hubs At Bullet Train Stations

Drawing inspiration from the way high-speed train stations and their surrounding areas have been developed in Japan, a land-use and connectivity master plan will be prepared to develop eight stations in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra. This will be a joint project involving the Railways and the urban development departments of both states.

In Japan, areas around Shinkansen stations have been developed with multi-storey shopping malls, office towers, hotels, restaurant streets, and convention and event centres. Railway companies such as the JR Group develop land and operate malls, offices, and hotels to generate rental income.

Bullet train stations there integrate metro services, local trains, bus terminals, and taxi hubs on a single platform. On similar lines, Kalupur and Sabarmati stations in Ahmedabad are also being developed as multi-modal connectivity centres.

Straight From Japan

Recently, a team comprising Gujarat’s Urban Development Department Principal Secretary M. Thennarasan, a town planner from the department, and officials from the Maharashtra and Central governments visited Japan.

The team studied commercial activities developed around high-speed train stations and their surrounding areas. They visited three major high-speed stations in Japan, including an underground city, to assess the feasibility of adopting such models for stations in Gujarat.

The state government has announced the formation of a High-Speed Rail Station (HRS) Area Planning Authority, appointing ten members, including the municipal commissioners of Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara; the CEO of the area development authority; the Chief Town Planner; and representatives from Japan and India.

This authority will facilitate the development of commercial hubs around eight stations in Gujarat — Sabarmati with Kalupur, Uttrarsanda, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, and Vapi — and integrate them with the surrounding city areas. The authority will acquire land and undertake town planning, with technological support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Speaking on the matter, Urban Development Department Principal Secretary M. Thennarasan said, “Based on our study of high-speed stations in Japan, we have begun deliberations to develop eight bullet train stations in Gujarat. First, we will get master plans prepared by top-tier companies for the development of stations and their surrounding areas. Thereafter, we will work out budget allocations, funding sources, and examine land available with the Railways and the Urban Development Department to prepare a comprehensive development plan.”

Maharashtra stations will be developed as well. A senior official from Thane, who was part of the Japan visit, said that, similar to Gujarat, Maharashtra plans to develop a financial and corporate hub around the Bandra Kurla Complex station.

In addition, Thane will be developed as a business satellite city with multi-modal connectivity; Virar will see housing, logistics, and retail development; and Boisar will be developed as an industrial-commercial city around the station.

The Bullet Train Trajectory

The bullet train will facilitate a 508 km journey between Mumbai and Sabarmati via Ahmedabad in two hours and 58 minutes, with a maximum speed of 320 km per hour, and stoppages at nine other stations. About 155 km of the project trajectory runs through Maharashtra, while the remaining 352 km area falls in Gujarat, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli. 

Experts say that as the train will pass through viaducts, bridges, mountain tunnels, and underground, as well as under sea, keeping its alignment straight and controlling the vibrations due to high speed makes it a highly complex and technically difficult infrastructure project. Of the 508 km, viaducts cover 465 km, bridges make up 9.82 km, underground areas add up to 21 km, including seven km of the undersea stretch, mountain tunnels have 5.22 km, and the remaining 6.75 km goes to station areas, among others. 

Gujarat Stations To Be Developed:

1. Kalupur-Sabarmati
2. Uttrarsanda
3. Anand
4. Vadodara
5. Bharuch
6. Surat
7. Vapi
8. Bilimora

Maharashtra Stations:

1. Boisar
2. Virar
3. Thane
4. Bandra Kurla Complex