12 May,2026 08:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Projected view of the heritage entrance at CSMT under the proposed redesign plan
Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is set for a massive Rs 2450 crore transformation into a modern multimodal rail hub, but concerns remain over the daily commuter chaos outside one of India's most iconic railway stations.
A revival proposal by Pune-based senior media professional Pradyuman Maheshwari says the station's biggest problem is not infrastructure, but poor management, fragmented accountability, and misuse of public space.
The projected masterplan of the revamped Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus precinct under the proposed redevelopment
The UNESCO World Heritage Site and headquarters of Central Railway is often compared globally with Grand Central Terminal, St Pancras International, and Tokyo Station. But Maheshwari argues the commuter experience outside CSMT falls far short of that standard.
CSMT is often compared with major international railway termini
Maheshwari says overcrowding begins near Platforms 8-13, where passengers occupy floors and benches, slowing movement inside the station.
An aerial view of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus before the proposed redevelopment and traffic reorganisation plan
Outside, he describes a disorderly mix of taxis, buses, app-based cabs, hawkers, pedestrians, and private vehicles competing for limited space.
Problems highlighted
>> Encroached footpaths
>> No designated Ola/Uber bays
>> Kaali-peeli taxis idling without an order
>> Buses cutting through pedestrian movement
>> Private vehicles occupying commuter space
>> Severe crowding near Platforms 8-13
âThe dysfunction begins within. Passengers camp on floors and steel benches near Platforms 8-13, overcrowding chokes circulation, and the food on offer is, to put it charitably, uninspiring'
Senior media professional Pradyuman Maheshwari
Maheshwari sharply criticised the use of prime frontage space outside the station by railway officials' vehicles.
He suggested relocating official parking to underutilised railway land near Platform 18, internal railway parcels, or using a valet system.
Artist's impression of CSMT after the proposed Rs 2450 crore redevelopment and multimodal hub transformation
âThe most valuable frontage outside the station - high-density, high-visibility - is occupied by vehicles belonging to railway officials'
Senior media professional Pradyuman Maheshwari
Criticism over congestion notwithstanding, work on CSMT's redevelopment is already at an advanced stage. Officials said that the project aims to restore the station's 1930s-era spatial character while creating a modern, multilevel transport hub.
Pradyuman Maheshwari argued that the station's problems persist despite existing laws clearly defining responsibilities for traffic management, public access, and heritage protection around the station.
Senior media professional Pradyuman Maheshwari. Pics/Rajendra B Aklekar
Agencies involved
>> Indian Railways
>> Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
>> Mumbai Traffic Police
>> Heritage oversight bodies
Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888:
>> Requires the civic body to keep streets and footpaths clear, accessible, and safe for public movement
>> Empowers authorities to remove encroachments and regulate public spaces
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
>> Gives traffic police powers to regulate vehicle movement, parking, congestion, and public transport operations
UNESCO heritage obligations
>> Require the surroundings of heritage structures to be managed sensitively so that traffic, construction, and commercial activity do not damage the site's character
Maheshwari has proposed a phased, multi-agency plan aimed at reducing congestion, improving pedestrian movement, and reorganising traffic flow around CSMT
by March 2027.
Proposed changes outside the station
Pedestrian and traffic management:
>> Convert the forecourt outside Platforms 8-13 into a pedestrian-first zone
>> Shift official railway vehicle parking away from the main frontage
Create separate pickup and parking bays for:
>> Kaali-peeli taxis
>> BEST buses
>> App-based cabs such as Ola and Uber
Public transport connectivity:
Introduce mini and circular feeder buses connecting CSMT with:
>> Gateway of India
>> Bombay High Court
>> Flora Fountain
>> Nariman Point
Hawker regulation
>> Replace unregulated vending with licensed and quality-controlled hawker zones instead of blanket removals
Crowd management
>> Restrict entry into the main concourse to passengers travelling within two hours
>> Create a separate waiting facility for passengers arriving early
Passenger amenities
>> Seating areas
>> Paid wash-and-change facilities
>> Clean subsidised food counters
>> Access restricted to bona fide ticket holders
>> Upgraded retail and dining outlets
The project has been branded "RailOPolis" - a station-city model integrating transport, shopping, food, entertainment, and tourism facilities.
Officials said elevated decks above outstation platforms will house:
>> Ticket counters
>> AC waiting areas
>> Food stalls
>> Passenger amenities
>> Shopping and entertainment zones
>> A 25-metre foot overbridge will connect the decks along DN Road
French consultancy AREP, owned by SNCF, is preparing the "Heritage Square" redesign.
The plan draws inspiration from a 1930s aerial photograph of CSMT taken by Englishman AR Haseler.
Officials said the redesign would shift long-distance passenger pressure away from the original heritage structure while preserving the historic Steven's building for suburban commuters.
âThe huge air space at the station will be exploited and developed as an elevated deck for passengers'
An official
Key numbers
Feature Planned
Project cost Rs 2450 cr
Lifts 100
Escalators 75
Travelators 10
Parking capacity 1700 cars
