CSMT’s Restoration Nears Completion For Train Centenary

The Central Railway (CR) was in a hurry to clean up the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) building before February 3, the day the first train went on the electrified section between the then-Bombay Victoria Terminus and Kurla in 1925. A portion of the Rs 2.50-crore cleaning project is nearly complete.

According to sources, the current building’s maintenance was intended to be handled by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), which is redeveloping the UNESCO World Heritage site. However, because the overall construction was progressing slowly, the CR authorities took over the task. Senior railway officials added that the CSMT reconstruction project, for which money is being sought in the upcoming budget, is expected to cost around Rs 2,700 crore instead of the initial Rs 2,450 crore.

Beginning in mid-December of last year, CR wrapped the whole length of the Victorian Gothic building, from the clock tower to the entrance below, with green cloth that was woven on scaffolding. Sources in CR claim that this renovation was done since the big structure’s stone walls have turned black due to air pollution.

“As part of the maintenance activity of the structure, which is a blend of sandstone and limestone, we took up basic cleaning work,” a senior CR official stated. The building’s outside walls facing the courtyard that extends onto the street in front of it were cleaned with water. There are two stages to this project.

For the cleaning operation, which is currently nearing its conclusion, the authorities covered the walls piece by piece. The roofing on the concourse facing Platforms 1 through 3 next to the Star Chamber is currently being cleaned. The transparent roofs’ beams were recently painted white with gold tints.

For the past few months, RLDA has been working on the extensive redesign of CSMT. According to sources, the reconstruction project, which is being carried out by Ahluwalia Contracts Limited, was initially estimated to cost Rs 2,450 crore, but the final cost increased by Rs 250 crore. The plan was authorised by CR in December 2022.

According to a railway official, “the overall completion of work is around 10-12%.” To relocate the employees of Central Railway’s DRM office building, we are constructing a new structure. At the same time, we are developing a structure near the Wadi Bunder end that will include office space, a multi-level parking lot, and other facilities.

In addition to the parking lot, which can accommodate more than 700 cars, the first level will have eateries, retail centres, and business establishments that link to a skywalk that will transport visitors across the railroad lines to the opposite side of the station. It has also been suggested to build a new foot-over bridge that will link all of the platforms.

There is barricading outside Platform 18 of CSMT, which is parallel to P D’Mello Road, where officials are excavating to build a new railway office building and station premises. The renovation spans 4,61,534 square meters. At the site, more than 95% of the excavation work is now finished.

Source: Hindustan Times

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