Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station
General information
Architectural style Indo-Saracenic
Town or city Mumbai, Maharashtra
Country India
Coordinates 18°56′23″N 72°50′08″E / 18.9398208°N 72.83546760000002°E / 18.9398208; 72.83546760000002Coordinates: 18°56′23″N 72°50′08″E / 18.9398208°N 72.83546760000002°E / 18.9398208; 72.83546760000002
Construction started May 1878 (1878-05)[1][2]
Completed May 1888 (1888-05)[1]
Cost ₹1,614,000 (US$25,000)(at that time) Now, ₹2,013.4 million (US$31 million)
Client Great Indian Peninsula Railway
Design and construction
Architect Frederick William Stevens, Axel Haig
Engineer Wilson Bell
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
Criteria Cultural: (ii), (iv)
Edit this on Wikidata
[3]
Reference 945
Inscription 2004 (28th Session)
Coordinates 18°56′23″N 72°50′08″E / 18.9398°N 72.8355°E / 18.9398; 72.8355
Owned by Indian Railways
Operated by Central Railway zone
Line(s) Mumbai-Nagpur-Howrah line
Mumbai-Chennai line
Platforms 18
Tracks Multiple
Connections Bus interchange
Construction
Structure type At-grade
Platform levels 01
Parking Yes
Other information
Station code CSTM
Zone(s) Central Railway zone
Division(s) Mumbai CR
History
Opened May 1853 (1853-05)[1]
Rebuilt May 1888 (1888-05)[1]
Electrified 25 kV AC 50 Hz
Previous names Victoria Terminus railway station
Bori Bunder railway station
Location
Mumbai CST
Location within Mumbai

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is a historic railway station and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. The station was designed by Frederick William Stevens with the concept of Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and meant to be a similar revival of Indian Goth (classical era) architecture, the station was built in 1887 in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The new railway station was built on the location of the Bori Bunder railway station[4] and is one of the busiest railway stations in India,[5] serving as a terminal for both long-distance trains and commuter trains. The station's name was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in March 1996 in honour of Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire. In 2017, the station was again renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus .

History

First building

Bori Bunder (alternatively "Bori Bandar") was one of the areas along the Eastern shore line of Mumbai, India which was used as a storehouse for goods imported and exported from Mumbai. In the area's name, 'Bori' means sack and 'Bandar' means port or haven (in Marathi); So Bori Bunder literally means a place where sacks are stored. In the 1853, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway built its railway terminus in this area and the station took its name as Bori Bunder railway station. On 16 April 1853 the Great Indian Peninsula Railway operated the first passenger train in India from Bori Bunder to Thane covering a distance of 34 km (21 mi). The train between Bori Bunder and Thane took 57 minutes at a distance of 35 km (22 mi) apart.

Second building

The station was then rebuilt as the Victoria Terminus, named after the then reigning Queen. The station was designed by the consulting British architect Frederick William Stevens (1848–1900). Work began in 1878. He received ₹1,614,000 (US$25,000) as the payment for his services.[1] Stevens earned the commission to construct the station after a masterpiece watercolour sketch by draughtsman Axel Haig.[1] The final design bears some resemblance to St Pancras railway station in London.[1][6] GG Scott's plans for Berlin's parliament building had been published four years before, and also has marked similarities to the station's design.[7] The station took ten years to complete,[6] the longest for any building of that era in Bombay. This famous architectural landmark in a Gothic-revival style was built as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Since then, the station came to be known as Bombay VT.(Railway code-BBVT) Originally intended only to house the main station and the administrative offices of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, a number of ancillary buildings have been added subsequently, all designed so as to harmonise with the main structure. The original platforms were from 1–9. As the Harbour line was being extended from its previous terminus at Dockyard road to VT, to prevent congestion, a new mainline concourse with platforms 10–13 to the east of the existing suburban concourse was constructed, to handle main line traffic was erected in 1929. The original building is still in use to handle suburban traffic and is used by over three million commuters daily. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Central Railway. The station was renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) after the great 17th-century Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1996, and again renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in 2017.

Renaming

The station has been renamed 4 times. It was originally known as Bori Bunder from 1853-1888. It was rebuilt as Victoria Terminus to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. In 1996, the name of the station was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus[8][9] in honour of Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire. In 2017, the station was again renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.[10]

2008 Mumbai attacks

On 26 November 2008, two terrorists entered the passenger hall of the CST, opened fire and threw grenades at people. The terrorists were armed with AK-47 rifles. One of the terrorists, Ajmal Kasab, was later caught alive by the police and identified by eyewitnesses. The others did not survive. The attacks began around 21:30 when the two men entered the passenger hall and opened fire,[11][12] The attackers killed 58 people and injured 104 others,[12] their assault ending at about 22:45 after they exited the station via the North FOB towards the west to Cama hospital back entrance.[11] This despite the fact that Central Railway RPF Hq being located near Platform 13 overlooking the central passenger hall. The CCTV captured the attack but was not completely made public to hide Railway police inaction.The CCTV evidence was used to identify and indict Kasab, who was a terrorist. In 2010, Kasab was sentenced to death for his role in the attack, and in 2012 he was hanged.

Structure

The station building is designed in the High Victorian Gothic style of architecture. The building exhibits a fusion of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and classical Indian architecture. The skyline, turrets, pointed arches, and eccentric ground plan are close to classical Indian palace architecture. Externally, the wood carving, tiles, ornamental iron and brass railings, grills for the ticket offices, the balustrades for the grand staircases and other ornaments were the work of students at the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art. The station stands as an example of 19th century railway architectural marvels for its advanced structural and technical solutions. The CST was constructed using high level of engineering both in terms of railway engineering and civil engineering. It is one of the first and is considered as one of the finest products of the use of industrial revolution technology merged with revival of the Gothic Revival style in India . The centrally domed office structure has a 330 feet long platform connected to a 1,200 feet long train shed, and its outline provides the skeleton plan for building. CST's dome of dovetailed ribs, built without centering, was considered as a novel achievement of the era. The interior of the building was conceived as a series of large rooms with high ceilings. It is a utilitarian building and has had various changes required by the users, not always sympathetic. It has a C-shaped plan which is symmetrical on an east-west axis. All the sides of the building are given equal value in the design. It is crowned by a high central dome, which acts as the focal point. The dome is an octagonal ribbed structure with a colossal female figure symbolizing Progress, holding a torch pointing upwards in her right hand and a spoked wheel in her left hand. The side wings enclose the courtyard, which opens on to the street. The wings are anchored by monumental turrets at each of their four corners, which balance and frame the central dome. The façades present the appearance of well proportioned rows of windows and arches. The ornamentation in the form of statuary, bas-reliefs, and friezes is exuberant yet well controlled. The columns of the entrance gates are crowned by figures of a lion (representing Great Britain) and a tiger (representing India). The main structure is built from a blend of India sandstone and limestone, while high-quality Italian marble was used for the key decorative elements. The main interiors are also decorated: the ground floor of the North Wing, known as the Star Chamber, which is still used as the booking office, is embellished with Italian marble and polished Indian blue stone. The stone arches are covered with carved foliage and grotesques.[13] Internally, the ceiling of the booking hall was originally painted blue, gold and strong red on a ground of rich blue with gold stars. Its walls were lined with glazed tiles made by Maw & Co of Britain.[14] Outside, there are statues representing Commerce, Agriculture, Engineering and Science, with a statue representing Progress on the central dome of the station.[14] A statue of Queen Victoria beneath the central dome has been removed.[14]

Platforms

CST has a total of 18 platforms – seven platforms are for suburban trains and eleven platforms (Platform 8 to Platform 18) are for inter city trains. Duranto, Garib Rath and Tejas Express leaves from Platform 18.[15] Air-conditioned dormitories were inaugurated at CST on 16 April 2013. The facility has 58 beds for men and 20 for women.[16]

Suburban network

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station
Mumbai Suburban Railway station
Coordinates 18°56′23″N 72°50′08″E / 18.9398°N 72.8355°E / 18.9398; 72.8355
Owned by Indian Railways
Line(s) Central Line, Harbour Line
Platforms 07
Tracks Multiple
Connections Bus interchange
Construction
Structure type At-grade
Platform levels 01
Parking Yes
Other information
Station code CSTM
Zone(s) Central Railway zone
Division(s) Mumbai CR
Fare zone Central Railway zone
History
Opened 1853 (1853)[1]
Rebuilt 1887 (1887)[1]
Electrified 25 kV AC 50 Hz
Previous names Victoria Terminus railway station
Bori Bunder railway station
Services
Preceding station  
MSR		   Following station
TerminusCentral Line
Main Line
toward Kalyan
TerminusHarbour Line
toward Andheri or Panvel

The network of commuter or suburban trains (locally known as locals, short for local trains) radiating out from this station is instrumental in keeping Mumbai running. The station serves as a terminus for long-distance trains as well as two of the suburban lines, the Central Line and the Harbour line.

The station has been the location of filming the "Jai Ho" song in Slumdog Millionaire;[17] and Ra.One.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Chhatrapati Shivaji Station". World Heritage Site. www.worldheritagesite.org. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  2. ↑ File:India Mumbai Victor Grigas 2011-15.jpg
  3. ↑ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/945.
  4. ↑ Aruṇa Ṭikekara, Aroon Tikekar (2006). The cloister's pale: a biography of the University of Mumbai. Popular Prakashan. p. 357. ISBN 81-7991-293-0.Page 64
  5. ↑ "India's impressive railway stations". Rediff.com. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  6. 1 2 "Advisory Body Evaluation: Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus" (PDF).
  7. ↑ Bombay Gothic by Christopher W London 2002 India Book House PVT Ltd ISBN 81-7508-329-8
  8. ↑ "Suresh Kalmadi – Work Profile". Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "Suresh Kalmadi – In Conversation". Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Mumbai travellers, CST is now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus". Hindustan Times. 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017.
  11. 1 2 "3 witnesses identify Kasab, court takes on record CCTV footage". The Economic Times. India. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  12. 1 2 "Photographer recalls Mumbai attacks". The News International. 16 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  13. ↑ "Microsoft Word - IND 945 AN.doc" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  14. 1 2 3 W, Christopher (2002). Bombay Gothic. London: India Book House PVT Ltd. ISBN 81-7508-329-8.
  15. ↑ CSTM
  16. ↑ "Dormitories for women at CST, LTT get good response". Indian Express. 19 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Outlook Publishing (6 October 2008). Outlook. Outlook Publishing. pp. 69–. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  18. ↑ "3,500 VFX shots in RA.One". Mahiram. n.d. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
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