Subway across to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST)
(Victoria Terminus)
Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus VT (Marathi:छत्रपती शिवाजी टर्मिनस), formerly Victoria Terminus, and better known by its abbreviation CST or Bombay VT, is an historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India, and serves Central Railway trains terminating in Mumbai as well as the Mumbai suburban railway.
Mumbai CST will be upgraded (along with Pune Jn. and Nagpur Jn.) by means of a public-private partnership.
History
The station was designed by Frederick William Stevens, a consulting architect in 1887-1888. He received as payment 16.14 lakh rupees. Stevens earned the commission to construct the station after a masterpiece watercolour sketch by draughtsman Axel Haig. The final design bears some resemblance to St Pancras station in London.
It took ten years to complete and was named "Victoria Terminus" in honour of the Queen and Empress Victoria; it was opened on the date of her Golden Jubilee in 1887. This famous architectural landmark in Gothic style was built as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Since then the station came to be known as Bombay VT.
In 1996, in response to demands by the Shiv Sena and in keeping with the policy of renaming locations with Indian names, the station was renamed by the state government after Chatrapati Shivaji, a famed 17th century Maratha king. On 2 July 2004 the station was nominated as a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
In 2008, the station was featured prominently in the Academy Award winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
Terrorist attacks in 2008
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. More than 50 people were killed in the attack. (For this reason, photography is not permitted inside the building.)
The station building was designed in the Victorian Gothic style of architecture. The building exhibits a fusion of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture. Internally, 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 Bombay School of Art. The station stands as an example of 19th century railway architectural marvels for its advanced structural and technical solutions.
The network of suburban trains (locally known as locals, short for local trains) radiating out from this station is instrumental in keeping Mumbai running. The station serves long-distance trains as well as two of the suburban lines-the Central Line and the Harbour line. It is the westernmost terminus of Central Railway. Local trains terminate at Karjat, Kasara, Panvel, Khopoli, Dombivli, Kalyan, Asangaon, Titwala, Ambernath, Badlapur, Thane.
Subway across to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST)
(Victoria Terminus)
Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus VT (Marathi:छत्रपती शिवाजी टर्मिनस), formerly Victoria Terminus, and better known by its abbreviation CST or Bombay VT, is an historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India, and serves Central Railway trains terminating in Mumbai as well as the Mumbai suburban railway.
Mumbai CST will be upgraded (along with Pune Jn. and Nagpur Jn.) by means of a public-private partnership.
History
The station was designed by Frederick William Stevens, a consulting architect in 1887-1888. He received as payment 16.14 lakh rupees. Stevens earned the commission to construct the station after a masterpiece watercolour sketch by draughtsman Axel Haig. The final design bears some resemblance to St Pancras station in London.
It took ten years to complete and was named "Victoria Terminus" in honour of the Queen and Empress Victoria; it was opened on the date of her Golden Jubilee in 1887. This famous architectural landmark in Gothic style was built as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Since then the station came to be known as Bombay VT.
In 1996, in response to demands by the Shiv Sena and in keeping with the policy of renaming locations with Indian names, the station was renamed by the state government after Chatrapati Shivaji, a famed 17th century Maratha king. On 2 July 2004 the station was nominated as a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
In 2008, the station was featured prominently in the Academy Award winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
Terrorist attacks in 2008
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. More than 50 people were killed in the attack. (For this reason, photography is not permitted inside the building.)
The station building was designed in the Victorian Gothic style of architecture. The building exhibits a fusion of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture. Internally, 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 Bombay School of Art. The station stands as an example of 19th century railway architectural marvels for its advanced structural and technical solutions.
The network of suburban trains (locally known as locals, short for local trains) radiating out from this station is instrumental in keeping Mumbai running. The station serves long-distance trains as well as two of the suburban lines-the Central Line and the Harbour line. It is the westernmost terminus of Central Railway. Local trains terminate at Karjat, Kasara, Panvel, Khopoli, Dombivli, Kalyan, Asangaon, Titwala, Ambernath, Badlapur, Thane.