NHSRCL Greenlights Thane Rolling Stock Depot for High-Speed Bullet Train Project in Maharashtra

In a significant development for the Mumbai – Ahmedabad High-Speed Corridor (Bullet Train Project), the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has issued a Letter of Acceptance for the ‘Design and Construction of Thane Rolling Stock Depot’ in Maharashtra. The project, which encompasses civil works, inspection sheds, maintenance depot installation, testing, and commissioning of maintenance facilities, has been awarded to M/s Dineshchandra-DMRC JV.

The Thane Rolling Stock Depot, spanning over approximately 55 hectares, is poised to play a crucial role in the upkeep and light maintenance of the high-speed trainsets for the Bullet Train Project. The initial phase will see the construction of 4 inspection lines and 10 stabling lines, with plans to increase to 8 and 31, respectively, in the future.

Embracing the expertise gleaned from Shinkansen depots in Japan, the Thane Depot will host about 200 units of 40 types of depot machineries, adhering to Shinkansen standards. These include advanced equipment such as bogie exchange machines, underfloor wheel re-profiling machines, ultrasonic flaw detectors, and a trainset washing plant.

Alongside the Thane Rolling Stock Depot, two other depots in Sabarmati and Surat, Gujarat, are concurrently under construction. The Sabarmati Depot, set to be the largest with an area of around 83 hectares, has commenced work under the M/s Sojiz-L&T consortium. Noteworthy features of this depot include state-of-the-art equipment for both light and heavy maintenance, inspection bays, washing plants, workshops, sheds, and stabling lines.

Similarly, the Surat Depot, covering approximately 40 hectares, is strategically located near the planned Surat High-Speed Rail (HSR) Station. It is designated to receive the initial trainsets from Japan and will offer essential facilities for their commissioning. The depot will be equipped for daily inspections and, during the initial operational phase, can accommodate two trainsets for maintenance purposes.

Both the Sabarmati and Thane depots will implement efficient water resource management systems. The Sabarmati Depot will predominantly rely on harvested rooftop rainwater and bore wells, with minimal dependence on municipal supply. Thane Depot will also feature suitable rooftop rainwater and stormwater storage, along with sewage treatment and effluent treatment plants.

In addition to environmental considerations, the green depots boast various salient features, including optimized land utilization, a well-structured layout for efficient workflow, a safe and comfortable working environment, provisions for future solar panel installations, noise control, dust suppression, proper ventilation, and modern material handling and storage systems.

As the construction progresses, the green depots signify a leap toward sustainable and technologically advanced infrastructure for the Bullet Train Project.