Mumbai’s historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is all set to undergo a major transformation. The iconic railway station is being redeveloped on the lines of the United Kingdom’s King’s Cross station with an estimated budget of Rs 1,800 crore. The project, which commenced in January 2023, is expected to be completed by May 2026, and is currently 18% complete.
The redevelopment will include state-of-the-art facilities for passengers and aims to integrate CSMT with different modes of city transport. Key highlights of the project include a modern station building, renovation of the heritage structure, suburban and long-distance travel nodes, a new South Heritage Node, and connectivity via skywalks to locations such as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai.
A massive, elevated deck is being constructed above the platforms to ease passenger movement. The station will also feature a rooftop plaza with dedicated spaces for retail, cafeterias, and entertainment, offering all essential amenities under one roof.
According to officials, the redeveloped CSMT will function like a city-centre rail mall, fulfilling passengers’ daily needs, including food and entertainment. A business center is also part of the redevelopment plan. Additionally, CSMT will be connected to the new metro network for enhanced urban mobility.
Inspired by a 1930s aerial photograph taken by British engineer A.R. Hadsar, the redevelopment plan emphasizes preserving the heritage structure while utilizing the vast aerial space to create elevated decks and separate entry and exit routes for passengers. The French Railways were consulted to help design the Heritage Square Master Plan for the station.
Speaking on the project, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “CSMT is being developed as a world-class rail facility. No redevelopment project of this scale has ever been undertaken anywhere in the world. Once completed, the British-era CSMT complex in South Mumbai will outshine London’s King’s Cross Station.”
The minister also mentioned that under the Amrit Bharat scheme, 1,300 railway stations across India are being redeveloped, with work already completed at 104 stations. In Maharashtra, apart from CSMT, major stations being upgraded under the scheme include Dadar (Central & Western), Andheri (Mumbai), Pune, Nashik Road, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
