CST makeover snippets

The master plan to convert the historic and Grade-1 heritage Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) into a world-class station is finally complete and ready to be presented to the Railway Board in Delhi. Highly-placed sources said that a meeting to this effect has been scheduled for April 30. Railway officials at the zonal headquarters of Central Railway (CR) situated at CST have zeroed in on the most “ambitious’’ of the three blue prints that where drawn up a few months ago by consultants AREP, France. Each of the plans had outlined how the terminus and its circulating area could be modified so as to improve the citizen’s travel experience and provide ample space for the growing number of commuters. The plan finally chosen by CR officials has the most “extravagant detailing’’ and offers the best structural changes, said the source, adding that it was by far, the most popular choice. The most significant component is the construction of an iconic building in the middle of the suburban and nonsuburban tracks, after the present arrangement is remade at the terminus’s north end. The yards, maintenance sidings and small office sheds currently housed in that area will be shifted to the nearby Wadibunder yard. The iconic building, which will be one of the most defining points of the project, will be built so as to increase the importance of CST. And while it will not draw away from the historic beauty of the terminus, it will be a landmark in its own right, said the source. The construction of the building, however, will require final clearances from the UNESCO and the heritage committee as CST is a world heritage structure. Planners are keen on incorporating a modern architectural design for the tower and are yet to decide if it will house railway offices or be let out for commercial purposes. “Another plus point is that we can create space to commercially exploit Carnac Bunder,’’ the source added. Other crucial components of the plan include the provision for an elevated station building above the non-suburban lines. This new structure will house basic passenger amenities like waiting rooms, booking offices and so on. On the suburban side, platform one will be extended eastwards so as to increase its circulating area and merged with platform two. The platforms would also be pushed 45 m northwards in order to increase circulating space in the main concourse. That means CST will have one less platform from its existing 18. Non-suburban platforms would all be extended to hold 26 coach trains.