Heritage Committee clearance for CSMT redevelopment project

Railway officials said the redevelopment plan has multiple layers of inspection, and there won’t be loss of heritage. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The Mumbai CSMT redevelopment project has got a major boost, as the Central Railway has received a nod from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Heritage Committee for it. Almost after 120 years, the UNESCO-listed world heritage site will be redeveloped into a 21st century multimodal integration hub, and the station restored to its glory of the 1930s.

Railway officials said that the redevelopment plan has multiple layers of inspection and sanctions, and there won't be any loss of heritage. The plan also includes segregation of arriving and departing passengers, and turning it a divyang-friendly station with better services.

"The CSMT will function like a city centre rail mall, where in addition to passengers' transportation needs, their daily needs such as retail, food and beverages, entertainment and souvenir shopping will also be fulfilled. The aim is to cater to maximum passenger needs while they pass through the railway station. The change in the finance model from public private partnership [PPP] to Hybrid PPP means that things will move faster," said a railway official.

A top Central Railway official confirmed the development. "The Central Railway received the nod from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee in the month of February 2022. The next process now will involve sending documents to the Public Private Partnership Approval Committee, after which a Request for Quotation-cum-Request for Proposal will be issued," he said.