Home / News / India News / Article /
Fiona Fernandez: Tracking a great terminus
Updated On: 27 March, 2017 06:10 AM IST | | Fiona Fernandez
<p>As parts of CST go in for restoration, we hope that the UNESCO World Heritage site emerges as a commuter and tourist-friendly landmark</p>
Late September 2010. We were under a British autumnal spell; staring at the stunning medley of Victorian Gothic architecture that greeted us inside London's St Pancras railway station. Amidst the teeming crowds, a heady mix of shopping destinations, and buzzing pubs and restaurants, the legacy of the station since the time when its first train chugged in on October 1, 1868, could not be missed. The sense of seamless synchronicity between tradition and modern blew our mind.
We spotted a poetry reading competition underway for schoolchildren that was held beside the iconic statue of John Betjeman, the 20th century poet. For the 15 minutes as we watched from the sidelines, it was tough to imagine that we were standing in the midst of one of the world's busiest railway stations. By now, similarities with our very own Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus) had become more than obvious - from its Gothic origins, its arches, pillars, and towering ceilings to its crowds, and its role in nation-building. Yet, one question prodded the mind - unlike St Pancras, was CST able to offer a 360-degree commuter or tourist experience? From unclean loos to missing help desks and signage for facilities used by lakhs everyday, it appeared inadequate for its size and standing as one of the iconic railway stations of the world.
Read Next Story
Trending Stories
Latest Photos
Latest Videos
Latest Web Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Mid-Day Fast
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT