Mumbai: CSMT to turn into 21st century multimodal integration hub

About five acres of rooftop space will be created on the Mumbai CSMT premises as a circulating area for passengers, as part of the redevelopment of the World Heritage Site. The project received formal approval on Wednesday. Work on the processing tenders will begin in the next 10 days.

"Today, the Cabinet sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore for the redevelopment of three big stations, namely New Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Ahmedabad," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. After almost 120 years, the UNESCO-listed world heritage site of CSMT will be redeveloped into a 21st century multimodal integration hub.

Also read: Cabinet okays Rs 10k cr for redeveloping New Delhi, Mumbai's CSMT rail stations

"The main heritage structure will not be touched. The huge space over the tracks at the station will be exploited and developed as an elevated deck for passengers, and there will be segregated access for entering and exiting commuters," he said. The Central Railway received a nod from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee for the project in the month of February 2022.

Railway officials said that the redevelopment plan had multiple layers of inspection and sanctions and there won't be loss of heritage. The plan also includes segregation of arriving and departing passengers and turning it into 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 will be looked at with regard to retail, food and beverages, entertainment and souvenir shopping. The aim is to cater to maximum passenger needs while they pass through the railway station.

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No. of acres of rooftop space to be utilised for the hub