Mumbai's CSMT station to get makeover of Rs 1,642 crore with world class facilities

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is set to get a makeover with world class facilities at a cost of Rs 1,642 crore, officials said on Monday.

Under the project, the plan is to shift some railway offices from the premises to Byculla and Wadi Bunder yards, create more pedestrian area and have an access control system at the station, they said.

The Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) on August 20 invited the Request For Qualification (RFQ) for the redevelopment of the station through the public private partnership (PPP) model.

ISRDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Kumar Lohia said the redevelopment of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai would not only be limited to improving the facade of the station.

"Since it is a heritage structure, the first important element is to restore its heritage. We will restore the heritage to the 1950-level, Lohia said.

According to IRSDC, the project cost is Rs 1,642 crore, including the construction cost of Rs 1,231 crore and financing cost of Rs 328 crore.

The redevlopment of the structure will be done on DBFOT (design, build, finance, operate and transfer) basis. The bidding process will be done in two stages- RFQ and Request for Proposal (RFP).

Under the plan the existing taxi stand will be shifted close to the boundary wall adjoining the Saint George Hospital, officials said.

The plans also includes, Harbour line, which connects south Mumbai with western suburbs and Navi Mumbai, will be shifted to the P D'mello Road side on east of the main line station on an elevated level, they said.

According to IRSDC, the stations will have an access control system and the passengers will have to pay a user fees, which the railway board will decide in future.