Title - RAIL NEWS CENTER: BMC to study multi-crore CST subways proposal at CST

MUMBAI: Central Railway (CR) has drawn up plans to build a network of underground sub-way around the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus(CST) to ensure faster dispersal of commuters.

Under world Class development project, the CR had already drawn up a plan build a subway to connect CST to GPO main road. However, the proposal has hit a hurdle after International Council on Monuments and Site, an advisory body to UNESCO disapproved railways request to rational buffer zone to free up land for development. The freed-up land could have been commercially exploited to fund the revamp of CST, which had been granted the status of world heritage site in 2004 by UNESCO.

CR is keen to take up the work on the subway by detach from the master plan prepared for over all development of CST into world class station. It feels that building a subway will not violate the heritage norms. Moreover, the delay in executing the World Class project is putting on hold the subway project that is crucial for smooth dispersal of commuters."

Central Railway's Divisional Raiway Manager (DRM) Mukesh Nigam met Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte to discuss the proposal. CR expect the richest civic body in the country to fund the project, which will pass underground the Walchand Hirachand Marg and DN road.

CR officials said that their foremost demand is to build the sub-way below the concourse area between the DRM building and main CST building and cross the WH road toward Fort. The official said, "It will benefit lakhs of commuters who work in Fort, The cost of the project for this leg of subway is estimated to be RS 80-100 crore and will be 60 m long."

In Phase II, the authorities can built a subway, alongside the existing facility on the West side, with an entry and exit point near pavement in Fort direction but the location is yet to be finalized.. In the third phase, all the three subways can be inter-connected that can create a huge network of underground pedestrian network.

The official said, "We do not foresee any objection from the Heritage committee as the underground network will in no way ruin the facade of the CST.".

As of now, 14 columns of the people can walk through the existing concourse from the East side entry/exist of CST station. The official said, "The new sub-way should be able to handle at least 10 columns of people."

According to BMC sources Kunte told the DRM that they will have to study the proposal, though railway said that commissioner appeared positive about the benefits of the project.

Kunte could not be reached for a comment as he is out of the country. However an official from the BMC's roads and bridges department said there is huge network of underground utilities, including water supply pipe lines, sewer lines and able. It will required nothing but an herculean task to shift these utilities without causing inconvenience to commuters and vehicular traffic.