Milk-inspired design for Anand bullet train station takes shape

Vadodara: The upcoming bullet train station in Anand, part of India's ambitious high-speed rail corridor, is being designed to reflect the city's identity as the "Milk City of India", officials of the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said on Monday.According to officials, the station's façade and interiors draw inspiration from the fluid form, shape and colour of milk droplets — a tribute to Anand's stature as the country's milk capital. The design seeks to seamlessly blend local cultural identity with modern infrastructure.The station will stand 25.6 metres tall and span a built-up area of 44,073 sq m. It will have three levels, with two side platforms and four tracks in between, and will be equipped with modern passenger amenities.Facilities will include ticketing and waiting areas, restrooms, a nursery, information booths and retail spaces. Skylights on the roof and exterior will allow ample natural light into the premises.To ensure smooth access, dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones, along with parking for cars, two-wheelers, rickshaws and buses, are being developed. A pedestrian plaza is also planned.In terms of connectivity, Uttarsanda railway station lies about 600 metres east of the site, while Nadiad Junction — a major rail hub — is around 10km away.Officials said the station is being developed as a multimodal transport hub to enable faster, seamless connectivity across transport modes."On the construction front, significant progress has been made. Slab casting across all three levels has been completed, along with structural steel work for the roof and roof sheeting. The external façade steel structure is also in place, while lifts and escalators have been installed. Cladding work and staircase finishing are currently under way," an official said.