New glass canopies will let iconic CST shine through

Four canopies will give visitors an unhindered view of the heritage structure

The entry and exit points of the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) will soon undergo a transformation.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finalised a proposal to replace the current polycarbonate roofing with transparent and toughened glass canopies worthy of the heritage building.

Glass canopies will be built at the station’s four entrances and exits.

Once the Rs2.35-crore proposal is approved by the standing committee, the project will be completed in six months, officials said.

The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) cleared the proposal recently.

It will be tabled before the standing committee of the civic body soon.

“The glass canopies will provide an unhindered view of the heritage structure. We received many complaints that the beautiful arches were hidden by the current polycarbonate roofing on the four subways,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of A ward.

This project is one of many that the BMC and the railways have proposed to transform the area around the station.

CST is one of 10 iconic locations selected by the Central government to showcase its Swachh Bharat mission.

Built in 1888, CST is a UNESCO world-heritage structure and one of the most photographed buildings in the city, said officials.

On realising that many people stood in the middle of the road to take pictures of it, the

BMC recently inaugurated a viewing gallery for tourists to take photographs of the BMC building and Capitol Cinema. The project cost the civic body Rs90 lakh.

HT earlier reported that the BMC had come up with a detailed plan to beautify CST.

The plan includes measures to attract more tourists and ease pedestrian movement, said officials.

It will be implemented in phases, when areas within 100m of CST, such as the Bhatia Baug (a garden), will also be beautified, said civic officials.