Mumbai: Byculla railway station restored to its heritage architectural glory, wins UNESCO award

 The Byculla railway station was commissioned in the year 1853

The 169-year-old Byculla railway station has bagged the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Merit for cultural heritage restoration and conservation.

On Monday, Union Minister for Railways, Communication, Electronics, and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnav met Shaina NC and congratulated her team and Central Railway for their efforts in the restoration of Byculla station to its original architectural glory.

The Byculla railway station was commissioned in the year 1853.

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1 year agoWEBSTORY

In July 2019 a huge project to restore the ancient heritage architecture of Byculla railway station, one of India's oldest stations began. This project had been initiated in coordination with Railways by Shaina NC Trustee, I Love Mumbai, in loving memory of her father Ex-Sheriff of Mumbai and Founder of I Love Mumbai and Giants International, late Padmashree Nana Chudasama with the support of Bajaj Trust Groups, and Abha Narain Lambah Associates, as their CSR initiative.

Minal Bajaj and Niraj Bajaj of Bajaj Group and Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation funded this huge restoration project of over four crore rupees.

Heritage Conservation Architect Abha Narain Lambah graciously consented to do the project pro bono as their CSR initiative in honor of the city of Mumbai.

The task of the entire planning and execution was completed and Byculla railway station was restored to its original, ancient, heritage architecture with excellence on 29.4.2022 at the hands of Raosaheb Dadarao Patil Danve, Minister of State for Railways, Government of India. Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Shaina NC, Trustee, I LOVE MUMBAI, Minal Bajaj and Niraj Bajaj of Bajaj Group and Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Heritage Conservation Architect Abha Narain Lambah, Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, presently Chairman & CEO, Railway Board (then General Manager Central Railway), Principal Head of Departments and other Senior Officers of Central Railway were also present.

The following works were undertaken:

• Beautification of the main entry/façade of platform number 1 - restoration, lighting, etc.
• Improved and restored exit passage of platform number 1 -(Dadar end)
• Garden area facing the façade restored and beautified
• Restoration of all walls, grills, FOBs
• Renovation of toilets for general and Divyangjan
• Upgradation/beautification of water huts - two each on all platforms
• Restoration and upgradation of benches
• LED lighting at station in heritage scheme
• Repainting and beautification of FOBs
• Heritage wing roof restoration
• Separate ladies toilet and regulation/restoration of the façade of offices/stores along the concourse.

Today, Byculla station stands proudly as a symbol of history and heritage and at the same time a station with the most modern amenities.