Although the finances have been almost tied up, there are many hurdles in the path of Mum-Ahm bullet train project.
(1) Mum-Ahm Bullet train shall be having very high fares (higher or equal to the plane fares), it will get good patronage only if it facilitates best convenience to its passengers by offering a well-connected and suitably located boarding points (Rly station).
(2) It will be used by Company officials & Rich persons only as fares are likely to be very high, it be out of reach of majority of middle/low income...
more... public. the only practical option can be either south Mumbai (Nariman point area) or BKC (centrally located, well established and still growing).
(3) There will be stiff competition from airlines, and in order to wean away the passengers from airlines, bullet trains have to offer rly station at much more convenient location than the airport. Station at LTT, even after improvement of connecting roads, will go very much against bullet train and go in favor of airlines & expressways/roadways. Bullet train project is one of the costliest, most high-tech and high profile project of not only Mumbai but of India, it deserves the best and the poshest location for its terminal. In fact Bullet Train shall be one of the brightest feather in the cap of the proposed IFC at BKC and add to its utility.
We had been hearing a lot about IFC in Mumbai since decades which has not happened primarily because of inadequate political clout/leverage of Maharashtra at Center. Other cities like Delhi has rose a lot in the matter of developing infrastructure & gaining financial weightage during last 2 decades as compared to Mumbai. Since, the Central Govt is most conducive for Mumbai/Mahatrashtra today than the earlier times, it is best time for IFC to come through and Maha Govt should not miss the opportunity, lest other cities with growing financial might and having more political clout seize the opportunity. It may be possible to make up for the small area lost Bullet train station by adjustment in other plans or little bit of adjustment with permitted FSI.