Mumbai: Byculla station renovated back to its 19th century look

Shaina NC, who is associated with the restoration project, with railway officials at Byculla station

Byculla, one of the oldest railway stations on India's oldest railway lines, is set to regain its old glory. The stone building has been taken back to its nineteenth century look and its cast iron railings and pillars now have their original appeal. There are plans to rededicate the station to the city on January 26.

The nearly 130-year-old station building is one of the five Grade One listed railway stations in Mumbai other than Reay Road, Bandra, CSMT and Churchgate. Of them, CSMT is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while Churchgate is on UNESCO's tentative list.

Byculla station is being renovated under the Mumbai Beautification Project by NGO ‘I Love Mumbai' and Central Railway - Ministry of Railways, implemented by Abha Narain Lambah Associates, supported by Bajaj Group. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had inaugurated the restoration work in July 2019, two years after the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Review Committee recommended revamping of Byculla, Bandra and Reay Road stations.

Even today, the station sports many of its original features like the high roof, historic signage, railings, its porch that was once used for horse carriages and original grills of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway.