Mumbai Central Terminus set for major refurbishment

As it approaches its centenary, Mumbai Central Terminus is going to undergo a 1,500 crore refurbishment that will turn it into a thriving, contemporary transportation hub.

Just six years away from turning a century old, Mumbai Central Terminus is about to undergo a massive renovation estimated to cost ₹1,500 crore. The 32.5-acre station premises will be redesigned in accordance with the Rail Land Development Authority’s (RLDA) plan to accommodate anticipated increases in foot traffic, a range of passenger amenities, access to other public transportation options, and skyscrapers housing offices and commercial establishments. The amenities, including meeting rooms, rest areas, and suburban railway offices, which currently exist in a six-story building, will be relocated to Grant Road and Mahalaxmi.

After the UNESCO-designated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai Central is the second station in the Mumbai metropolitan area set for renovation. The RLDA improved CSMT as well, spending ₹2,450 crore in the process. A senior railway official states that during a July visit to Mumbai Central Terminus to assess the refurbishment, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw requested that the cost be reduced to ₹500 crore. “To reduce the expenses, we are currently rearranging the plan’s details,” he states

By 2065, the upgrades will turn the station’s grounds into a bustling hub that can accommodate more than 650,000 passengers each day. It will have distinct entry/exit plazas for passengers and packages, two concourses (the top one covering 27,516 square metres and the lower one 34,366 square metres), connections to various public transportation options like cabs and the metro, a shopping centre and areas for refreshments.

A senior railway official states, “A highrise building that will house offices and commercial establishments will be made way for the ground plus six-story building that currently houses various suburban railway offices and amenities.” This action will aid the railways in making money from the main scheme.

The six-story structure housing the Western Railway divisional railway manager’s office will be replaced by the 19th-century parcel depot at Grant Road. The parcel depot spans 0.68 hectares and is presently used by the railway police. According to sources, a 1-hectare site next to it is probably going to be commercialised as well. The six-story buildings remaining offices and assets will be relocated to Mahalaxmi, near the train yard. “The revitalisation of Mumbai Central railway station is an important step towards modernising the city’s infrastructure, improving the commuter experience, and fostering the city’s development,” a railway representative states.

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