05 June,2026 08:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers inaugurates the ‘Library Junction’ at Churchgate station on Friday. PIC/WESTERN RAILWAY
Commuters passing through Churchgate station can now borrow a book for their train journey, with the Western Railway and Project Mumbai launching a first-of-its-kind free public library at the station on Friday.
Named "Library Junction", the facility was inaugurated on World Environment Day at the South Concourse area of Churchgate station by former South African cricketer and captain AB de Villiers in the presence of railway and civic officials.
The initiative has been undertaken by Project Mumbai in collaboration with the Mumbai Central Division of Western Railway, while L&T Ltd. has partnered as the social initiative partner.
Officials said the library aims to transform the commuting experience by giving passengers access to books and encouraging reading habits in one of Mumbai's busiest railway stations.
Part of Project Mumbai's Read Mumbai initiative, the library has been constructed using recycled plastic collected through the organisation's Plastic Recyclathon campaign, linking the project with environmental sustainability.
The facility currently houses around 1,200 books spanning genres such as fiction, non-fiction, self-help, autobiographies, children's literature, comics, yoga and popular magazines. A librarian will be available between 8 am and 8 pm to assist readers.
Commuters can borrow books from the library and return them within two weeks, making reading accessible to daily railway passengers.
According to organisers, the library's collection has been built through book donations from citizens, schools and community groups across Mumbai, along with volunteer support for cataloguing and organising books.
Project Mumbai said it plans to create similar reading spaces in other parts of the city through collaborations involving citizens, public agencies and private organisations.
Western Railway officials said the initiative reflects efforts to enhance passenger experience while encouraging community participation and meaningful public engagement at railway stations.
On the occasion of World Environment Day, Central Railway's Reay Road station has rolled out three green initiatives within its premises - planting 30 saplings, setting up a compost fertiliser unit, and converting a discarded wash basin into a fish tank.
The initiatives were launched on June 4 and 5 as part of a special environmental awareness programme aimed at promoting sustainability among commuters and railway staff. Station Manager Vinayak Shewale said awareness banners were displayed across the station to encourage passengers to plant more trees.
