Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus formerly Victoria Terminus with its cathedral
like facade is located at Dr. D.Naoroji Road, Nagar Chowk on the
eastern shoreline of Mumbai. Declared as a World Heritage Site by the
UNESCO on July 2, 2004, the train station is Mumbai's historical
landmark and also a symbol of the city's Gothic buildings. The Terminus
is the 2nd 'World Heritage Site' of the Indian Railways after the Darjeeling
Himalayan Railways which was inscribed in 1988, and the first functional
administrative building to be put on the World Heritage list.
Built in 1888 as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway
Company, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is also the western most end point
of the Central Railways. Designed by Frederick William Stevens, a British
architect, the building is a wonderful example of the Indo-Victorian Gothic
Revival architectural style. The railway station was opened to the
public on New Year's Day, 1882. Today, at least 1250 trains leave the
station every day from its 14 platforms, carrying some 3.3 million
passengers in and out of the city. It is the hub of the suburban (local)
railways as well as some of the long distance trains. A major part of
the building houses the administrative section of the Central Railways.
Construction of the Terminus began in 1878 and was completed
after 10 years in May 1888 at a cost of Rs. 16.14 lakhs (Rs. 1.614 million). In
1853, it was from this station that India's very first steam engine left
for its first trip to Thane. Initially named as 'Victoria Terminus' in
honour of the reigning Queen Victoria, in 1996 it was renamed Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus honoring the great 17th century Maratha King, by the
State Government of Maharastra. It is now commonly known as CST though
the old name VT or Victoria Terminus, is still commonly used.
Built in local sandstone, with a combination of the English
Venetian Gothic style endorsed with elements of Indian Architecture, the
terminus interior is very impressive with vaulted roofs, arches, Gothic
spires, neoclassical sculptures, stone carvings, exquisite friezes etc. The
frontage of the terminus is symmetrical with a massive central dome and
a number of smaller domes and conical towers on the wings on either side.
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