Andheri railway station

The Indian Railways was first established by British Empire of India in 1853 and it connected its first railway service between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane. In 1928, the British Empire connected Andheri station with Trombay by the Great Indian Peninsular Railway under the Bombay Improvement Trust as "Salsette–Trombay Railway line" with a view for the opening up of a railway line running West to South-east and linking up Andheri and Kurla station.{{cite web| url=https://nearfox.com/exp/history-of-andheri/| title=History Of Andheri| publisher=Nearfox| work=NF Desk| date=9 December 2014| access-date=5 March 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225163108/https://nearfox.com/exp/history-of-andheri/| archive-date=25 February 2016| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|title= Report of the Bombay Development Committee|url=https://archive.org/stream/ReportOfTheBombayDevelopmentCommittee/bombay_development_report_1914_djvu.txt|publisher= Government of Bombay, 1914|access-date=20 March 2012}} However, in 1934 the line had shut down due to the development of Santacruz Airport.{{cite web|title=Railway Gauges in India|url=http://irfca.org/faq/faq-gauge.html|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=20 March 2012}}

In February 2014, It was proposed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to integrate the Andheri metro station with the suburban station with the development of the skywalk and the same was proposed for the Ghatkopar metro station.{{cite web| url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-dna-special-mumbai-metro-local-integration-awaits-nod-1959478| title=Mumbai Metro-local integration awaits nod| work=DNA India| date=5 February 2014| access-date=12 February 2016}}

After the establishment of Mumbai Metro services In June 2014, a skywalk of {{convert|12|m}} has been developed by the MMRDA for the passengers traveling from local station to the metro station.{{cite web| url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mmrda-railways-work-together-to-close-gap-between-railway-metro-stations-at-andheri-ghatkopar/| title=MMRDA, Railways work together to close gap between railway, Metro stations at Andheri & Ghatkopar| work=The Indian Express| date=20 May 2014| access-date=16 January 2016| author=Priyal Dave and Mansi Phadke}}{{cite web| url=http://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-metro-to-be-thrown-open-to-the-public-tomorrow-576148| title=Mumbai Metro to be Thrown Open to the Public Tomorrow| publisher=NDTV| date=7 June 2014| access-date=12 February 2016| author=Saurabh Gupta}} The skywalk has been built opposite to the auto-rickshaw terminal of the station with an expenditure of {{INRConvert|6.04|c}}.{{cite web| url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Skywalk-to-link-Andheri-railway-metro-stations/articleshow/48324117.cms| title=SKYWALK TO LINK ANDHERI RAILWAY, METRO STATIONS| work=Mumbai Mirror| date=3 August 2015| access-date=13 February 2016| author=Rajendra B. Aklekar}}

The Harbour line of the Andheri station towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and {{stnlnk|Panvel}} serves a total number of 55 trains per day, with 46 running to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and only 9 towards Panvel.{{cite web| url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Work-to-start-in-Jan-to-extend-CSTs-Harbour-platforms-for-12-cars/articleshow/43027454.cms| title=WORK TO START IN JAN TO EXTEND CST'S HARBOUR PLATFORMS FOR 12 CARS| work=Mumbai Mirror| date=21 September 2014| access-date=16 January 2016| author=Rajendra B Aklekar}} The extension between Andheri and Goregaon of the Harbour Line was completed and had started to operate in 2018.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-17|title=Mumbai: All harbour-WR trains set to run till Goregaon|url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-all-harbour-wr-trains-set-to-run-till-goregaon-23201204|access-date=2021-11-21|website=www.mid-day.com|language=en}}

The station was renovated in early 2015 with the establishment of automated escalators and new Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) for the ease of booking tickets to the daily passengers.{{cite web| url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/highest-number-of-mobile-tickets-booked-in-andheri/story-SiSbb367QJazQEzYEhRvtI.html| title=Highest number of mobile tickets booked in Andheri| work=Hindustan Times| date=10 July 2015| access-date=21 January 2016}}{{cite web| url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/rs-2000-crore-makeover-for-20-mumbai-railway-stations/15903168| title=Rs 2,000-crore makeover for 20 Mumbai railway stations| work=Mid-Day| date=10 January 2015| access-date=16 January 2016| author=Shashank Rao}}{{cite web| url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-railway-stations-set-for-redevelopment/| title=Mumbai railway stations set for redevelopment| work=The Indian Express| date=18 July 2015| access-date=16 January 2016| agency=Express News Service}} According to the statistics of April 2014 to January 2015, the number of passengers using vending machines was 6,933, whereas in April 2015 to January 2016, it had the higher number of bookings with a total number of 18,316 passengers.{{cite web| url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-andheri-smartest-station-on-western-railway/17006164| title=Mumbai: Andheri 'smartest' station on Western Railway| work=Mid-Day| access-date=10 March 2016| author=Shashank Rao}}

Due to the increasing number of passengers travelling on the rooftop of the train coaches, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) electrified the train coaches rooftops containing 25,000 volts.{{cite web| url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/mumbai-25000-volts-to-shock-rooftop-travellers-441953.html| title=Mumbai: 25,000 volts to 'shock' rooftop travellers| publisher=CNN-IBN| date=30 January 2012| access-date=18 January 2016| author=Mid Day| author-link=Mid-Day}}

The station has nine platforms, with platform number 1 and 2 serving the Harbour line. Further, the Harbour lines now serves a 12-coach train services.{{cite web| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/All-Harbour-line-trains-to-get-12-coaches/articleshow/11658969.cms| title=All Harbour line trains to get 12 coaches| work=The Times of India| date=28 January 2012| access-date=18 January 2016|author=Manthan Mehta}} In 2012, it was proposed by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation that the Harbour line trains may get an extension of 12-coaches for the ease of passengers boarding daily from the Western lines. However the MRVC announced that extension of some stations has been completed and the services may start from 2016.{{cite web| url=http://www.afternoondc.in/city-news/dont-expect-12-coach-trains-on-harbour-line-before-2016/article_130013| title=Don't expect 12-coach trains on Harbour line before 2016| work=Afternoon| date=22 January 2015| access-date=18 January 2016| author=Aroosa Ahmad}}

In February 2016, it was reported that the main road of the eastern zone of the station will be re-constructed in according for development of a long delayed elevated auto-rickshaw terminal. The Bombay High Court had ordered to evict the stalls blocking the road. Counsel Anil Sakhare had stated to the court that the stall vendors blocked the construction and infrastructure development and most of the vendors opposed the eviction notice given to them.{{cite web| url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-andheri-station-may-soon-get-elevated-auto-deck-2174760| title=Andheri station may soon get elevated auto deck| work=DNA India| date=7 February 2016| access-date=12 February 2016| author=Mustafa Plumber}} The work was originally started in 2011 and was to complete in December 2013 but as the corporation was unable to evict the stalls, the work was kept on hold. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had removed the stalls from the road and the construction for the terminal had been started.{{cite web| url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-finally-bmc-removes-stalls-outside-andheri-e-station-to-make-way-for-auto-ramp-2176033| title=Finally, BMC removes stalls outside Andheri (E) station to make way for auto ramp| work=DNA India| date=10 February 2016| access-date=12 February 2016| author=Geeta Desai}} It has a two-lane terminal measuring the height of {{convert|60|m}} and a width of {{convert|34|m}} which connects the Andheri-Kurla road.{{cite web| url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-demolition-outside-andheri-station-gets-bmc-thumbs-up-from-commuters-2177445| title=Demolition outside Andheri station gets BMC thumbs-up from commuters| work=DNA India| date=13 February 2016| access-date=15 February 2016| author=Binoo Nair}} Under the second phase of MUTP, three escalators and 2 lifts will be installed.{{cite web| url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/mutp-i-officially-ends/815040| title=MUTP-I officially ends| work=Free Press Journal| date=31 March 2016| access-date=16 April 2016}}

Platforms

Andheri is the busiest station on the Western Railway network. Over 99.6 million passengers' journeys originated at the station during the 2016–17 fiscal year. During the same period, the station sold {{INRConvert|2.41|c}} worth of tickets (or 9% of all tickets sold on the Western Line) and 890,000 season passes, earning WR a total revenue of {{INRConvert|59.50|c}}. An average of 66,152 tickets and 2,441 season passes were sold at the station daily, and an average of 256,561 passengers began their journeys at Andheri per day contributing {{INRConvert|1632994}} of average daily revenue.{{cite web|title=Andheri remains WR's busiest station, accounts for 9% of tickets sold {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-andheri-remains-wr-s-busiest-station-accounts-for-9-of-tickets-sold-2387221|website=DNA|access-date=9 April 2017|date=8 April 2017}}

File:Andher terminus interior.jpg

The station consists of a {{convert|100|m}}-long auto-rickshaw terminal at the eastern zone of Andheri. It has been built between the northern and middle foot-over bridges of the station and its connected to the northern bridge and continues down a road to the MV Road. In addition, the auto-rickshaw services are used for the passengers crossing through the Nityanand Road from the northern bridge to get down the road at the eastern bridge of the station. However, the designed structure was used for commuters serving as the only foot overbridge for the metro station as the terminal was kept unused.{{cite web| url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-hawkers-look-to-take-over-rs-8-crore-andheri-auto-deck/16361160| title=Mumbai: Hawkers look to take over Rs 8-crore Andheri auto deck| work=Mid-Day| date=11 July 2015| access-date=18 January 2016| author=Shashank Rao}}

{{wide image|Andheri bus terminal panorama.jpg|900px|Panoramic view of Andheri bus terminal from western zone

|alt=Panorama of Andheri bus terminal}}

The Oshiwara depot serves as a major hub and transfer point for Andheri bus routes serving the western area. All routes pull into the station's busway off Yari Road bus station, though some can be caught at Goregaon via the station's bus depot entrance as well. The eastern area is connected by buses between Agarkar Chowk Depot and Majas Depot, Ghatkopar Depot, Kurla Depot and Mulund Depot. But due to the increment of the Mumbai Metro service fare rates, the Ghatkopar-Andheri bus services proved to be a beneficial deal for the passengers.{{cite web| url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-best-route-sees-surge-in-commuters-after-metro-hikes-fare-2053478| title=BEST route sees surge in commuters after Metro hikes fare| work=Daily News and Analysis| date=18 January 2015| access-date=18 January 2016| author=Mewati Sitaram}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Andheri railway station}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20151006091656/http://www.wr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0%2C6%2C629 Andheri railway station] at WR official portal
• [http://go4mumbai.com/westernlookup.php?source=andheri-W-16-Andheri&destination=churchgate-W-1-Churchgate&time=09%3A00 Andheri station] at Go4Mumbai

{{Railway stations in Maharashtra}}

{{Mumbai – Suburban Railway, Western}}

{{Mumbai – Suburban Railway, Harbour}}

Category:Railway stations in India opened in 1928

Category:Railway stations in Mumbai Suburban district

Category:Mumbai Suburban Railway stations

Category:Mumbai WR railway division

Category:Andheri