Andheri Railway Station

Andheri (station code: A (Western), AD (Harbour), or ADH (Indian Railways) is a passenger railway station in Mumbai’s Andheri suburb. It serves the Western and Harbour lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway. It is also a stop for some express trains, including the August Kranti Rajdhani Express. The station also connects to Line 1 of the Andheri Metro Station. Andheri station rose to prominence after the British Empire of India established Salsette-Trombay Railway services in 1928, prior to independence.

With a significant number of passengers boarding daily, it has been dubbed “one of the busiest stations” in Mumbai, surpassing Ghatkopar station on the Central Line. In 2014, the station, along with Jogeshwari and Goregaon stations, was re-developed and expanded with a cost of ₹103 crore (US$13 million). In addition, the station has two bus stations that serve over 30 routes.

History of Andheri Railway Station

Salsette-Trombay Railway Service

The British Empire of India established the Indian Railways in 1853, with the first railway service connecting Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane. In 1928, the British Empire connected Andheri Railway Station to Trombay via the Great Indian Peninsular Railway under the Bombay Improvement Trust as the “Salsette-Trombay Railway line,” with the goal of opening a railway line running west to south-east and connecting Andheri station and Kurla stations. However, in 1934, the line was closed due to the construction of Santacruz Airport.

Metro-Local Being connected

In February 2014, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority proposed to integrate the Andheri metro station with the suburban station through the development of the skywalk, and the same was proposed for the Ghatkopar metro station.

Following the establishment of Mumbai Metro services. The MMRDA developed a 12 metre (39 foot) skywalk for passengers travelling from the local station to the metro station in June 2014. The skywalk, located opposite the station’s auto-rickshaw terminal, cost ₹6.04 crore to build.

Andheri Metro Station’s proposed expansion and redevelopment

The Andheri station’s Harbour line to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Panvel serves a total of 55 trains per day, 46 of which go to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and only 9 to Panvel. The Harbour Line extension from Andheri to Goregaon was completed and began operations in 2018.

The station was renovated in early 2015, with the installation of automated escalators and new Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) to facilitate ticket booking for daily passengers. According to statistics from April 2014 to January 2015, the number of passengers using vending machines was 6,933, while from April 2015 to January 2016, it had the highest number of bookings with a total of 18,316 passengers. Due to an increase in the number of passengers travelling on the rooftops of train coaches, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) electrified the rooftops with 25,000 volts.

The station has nine platforms, including platforms 1 and 2, which serve the Harbour line. Furthermore, the Harbour Line now operates 12-coach train services. The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation proposed in 2012 that the Harbour line trains be extended by 12 coaches to make it easier for passengers to board daily from the Western lines. However, the MRVC announced that the extension of some stations has been completed, and services may begin in 2016.

In February 2016, it was reported that the main road in the station’s eastern zone would be reconstructed to accommodate the development of a long-delayed elevated auto-rickshaw terminal. The Bombay High Court had ordered the eviction of the roadside stalls. Counsel Anil Sakhare told the court that the stall vendors obstructed construction and infrastructure development, and the majority of the vendors opposed the eviction notice issued to them. The work began in 2011 and was scheduled to be completed in December 2013, but it was put on hold because the corporation was unable to evict the stalls. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had removed the stalls from the road, and construction on the terminal had begun, It has a two-lane terminal that connects the Andheri-Kurla road and measures 60 metres (200 feet) in height and 34 metres (112 feet) wide.[26] The second phase of MUTP will include the installation of three escalators and two lifts.

Platforms 

Traffic 

Andheri is Western Railway’s busiest station. During the fiscal year 2016-17, the station served more than 99.6 million passengers. In the same period, the station sold 2.41 crore (US$300,000) worth of tickets (or 9% of all tickets sold on the Western Line) and 890,000 season passes, generating WR a total revenue of 59.50 crore (US$7.5 million). On a daily basis, the station sold an average of 66,152 tickets and 2,441 season passes. Additionally, 256,561 passengers began their journeys at Andheri, generating ₹1,632,994 (US$20,000) in revenue.

With a significant number of passengers boarding daily, it has been dubbed “one of the busiest stations” in Mumbai, surpassing Ghatkopar station on the Central Line. In 2014, the station, along with Jogeshwari and Goregaon stations, was redeveloped and expanded with an expenditure of ₹103 crore (US$13 million). In addition, the station has two bus stations that serve over 30 routes.

Check Out Flats For Sale in Andheri

Andheri Station Layout

Andheri is Western Railway’s busiest station. During the fiscal year 2016-17, the station served more than 99.6 million passengers. In the same period, the station sold 2.41 crore (US$300,000) worth of tickets (or 9% of all tickets sold on the Western Line) and 890,000 season passes, generating WR a total revenue of 59.50 crore (US$7.5 million). On a daily basis, the station sold an average of 66,152 tickets and 2,441 season passes. Additionally, 256,561 passengers began their journeys at Andheri, generating ₹1,632,994 (US$20,000) in revenue.

Bus Connections 

The Oshiwara depot is a major hub and transfer point for Andheri bus routes serving the western area. All routes enter the station’s busway from the Yari Road bus station, though some can also be accessed through the station’s bus depot entrance in Goregaon. Buses connect the eastern area with Agarkar Chowk Depot and Majas Depot, as well as Ghatkopar Depot, Kurla Depot, and Mulund Depot. However, due to the increase in the Mumbai Metro service fare rates, the Ghatkopar-Andheri bus services proved to be a good deal for passengers.

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About Andheri Metro Station