Western Railway demolishes last 94 structures at Bandra's Garib Nagar to expand Bandra Terminus

Western Railway (WR) on Friday, October 30, began demolishing the remaining 94 structures at Garib Nagar in Bandra (East), Mumbai. The railway's aim is to expand its infrastructure at the site.

A clearance operation had been carried out here in May, when more than 400 illegal structures were removed from the area. In that drive, 94 structures were deliberately left standing because the eligible families living in them were first to be given alternative housing.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has now given permanent homes to all 94 eligible families affected by the project and handed over possession of the new homes. Only after that did the demolition of the remaining structures resume. The rehabilitation process had to be completed before the rest of the land could be vacated.

The action follows an order issued by the Bombay High Court on October 23. The court had told residents to vacate the remaining site within seven days, while railway officials were directed to complete the demolition within 48 hours.

Once the land is cleared, WR plans to begin several infrastructure projects on the eastern side of Bandra Terminus. The proposed development will create an integrated railway complex with better facilities for passengers, easier access to the station and upgraded railway operations.

A key part of the expansion plan is an additional platform, to be numbered 8, at Bandra Terminus. The project will increase the terminus's capacity to handle more trains and upgrade the maintenance infrastructure. Under the expansion, supporting maintenance facilities will either be shifted elsewhere or developed afresh.

The proposed railway complex will also have a large area for passenger circulation and holding space. These facilities are meant to cope with the growing number of passengers using the station. Additional supporting infrastructure will also be developed to improve passenger movement and accommodate larger crowds.

Bandra Terminus is an important railway hub in Mumbai, with both suburban and long-distance train services. The planned expansion is meant to turn the area into an integrated railway complex with better passenger facilities and greater capacity to handle trains.