Chhatrapati Shivaji Station
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai (Bombay) formerly known as 'Victoria Terminus' is a heritage building which is a landmark in the station architecture in the world and heralds the golden era of railway architecture in India. Combining the best of architecture of the
East and the West, it was designed by F W Stevens.
Opened on June 20, 1887, to mark the Jubilee Day of Queen Victoria who was also then the Empress of India, its uniqueness lies in its Gothic cathedral architecture, its structural harmony and its lay-out plan. It represents a happy blend of Gothic, Venetian, Sarcenic and
Indo-Islamic traditions.
Stevens was quick to realise that in India there was always an excitement for a journey. “Passengers come before the train leaves the station; they look at the railway building with awe. Architecture of the railways,
therefore, should be aweinspiring”. The greatest attraction of VT is that it attracts even the non-travellers.
The terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878, according to a High Victorian Gothic design based on late medieval Italian models. Its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to traditional Indian palace architecture. It is an outstanding example of the meeting of two cultures, as British architects worked with Indian craftsmen to include Indian architectural tradition and idioms thus forging a new style unique to Bombay.
When the building was first used it held not only railway functionaries such as the accounts, chief engineer and traffic manager but also other municipal offices such as the superintendent of the police. Curiously, railway tickets were also printed in the same building. On 26 November 2008, two terrorists entered the passenger hall of the CST, opened fire and threw grenades at the people. The terrorists were armed with AK-47 rifles. More than 50 people were killed in the attack. |
