Title - Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus revamp plan put on fast track

MUMBAI: The Central Railway will appoint a financial consultant to prepare the bid document for the makeover of the iconic Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) into a world-class station.The process has been initiated at the behest of the Railway board, whose officials are confident that the proposal to rationalize the heritage buffer zone from the existing 90 hectares to 70 hectares will sail through at the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural organization (Unesco), which granted the World Heritage tag to CST in 2004.A senior CR official said, "It means that an in-principle approval for the project from the railway board even though a formal decision by the Unesco will be taken in the June/July. The project can only become viable if the buffer zone is rationalized as it will free up space for commercial exploitation of property around CST."It will take about six months to appoint the financial consultant. Another six months will be taken by the consultant to prepare the bid document on the basis of a masterplan prepared by Arep Ville, a French consultancy firm, and Egis India and Egis Rail.The next step in the project is to invite Request for Qualification and Request for Proposal, respectively, after which an agreement will be signed with the successful bidder.CR aims to improve the circulation area, enhance facility for commuters, remodel yard to improve speed, create exclusive area for pedestrians by carrying out the CST makeover through the public-private partnership model.Estimated to cost Rs 1,800 crore, the masterplan for the project envisages a multi-storey luxury hotel, commercial buildings, etc at Carnac Bunder for commercial exploitation.The official said that under the redevelopment plan, a pedestrian subway is proposed to be built below the platforms after dismantling the existing foot-overbridge. It also plans to eliminate all additions to the existing heritage building.An additional floor on the annexe building, extended toilet and TA building will also be demolished. A garden will also come up after demolishing all structures behind the main building.