World's most expensive train station opened in New York

In US, the world's most expensive train station opened in New York yesterday, nearly 2 billion dollars over budget and years behind schedule. Santiago Calatrava, the Spanish-Swiss architect who designed it, called it a gift of love to the city.

The World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which is expected eventually to serve more than 2 lakhs commuters daily, is built next to the site of the Twin Towers, which were destroyed in the terror attacks in 2001.

Unveiling his



ambitious design 12 years ago, Santiago Calatrava, the Spanish-Swiss architect removed a barrier at the entrance of the Oculus, a giant oval hall with walls of steel ribs and glass.

Initially budgeted at 2 billion dollars, it ended up costing 3.85 billion dollars, that would make it the most expensive station in the world. The building has an elliptical shape, reaching for the sky like the wings of a bird. The space measures 107 metres long by 35 metres at its widest point.