Mid-Day Exclusive: New west-side entry planned for CSMT via Crawford Market area in Mumbai

Imagine stepping out of Manish Market with your shopping bags and walking straight into Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CSMT to catch a train That possibility is now being explored as part of the Rs 2450 crore redevelopment of the cityrsquos busiest railway stationRailway planners have proposed a major new entry and exit point on the west side of CSMT potentially routed through the municipal fish market near Crawford Market The move is being considered to handle the massive crowds expected once the stationrsquos new elevated passenger decks become operationalView of the fish market zone near Crawford Market that railway authorities are considering as a potential access corridor for the redeveloped Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus PICSBY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTWhy a new entry is plannedKey objective manage future passenger flowsgtgt Elevated passenger decks under constructiongtgt Additional westside entry proposed via Manish Market roadgtgt Avoid structural changes to the historic DN Road buildingA railway official said ldquoWe need larger entry and exit points on the west side to disperse crowds once the elevated decks are operationalrdquoThe fish market which railway authorities are considering as a potential access corridor for the redeveloped Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus PICSBY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTThe bigger visionCSMT redevelopment aims to turn the station into a multimodal transit hub and retail zone similar to major European terminalsPlanned featuresgtgt Integrated transport hubgtgt Retail food courts and passenger facilitiesgtgt Accesscontrolled station entrygtgt Five acres of rooftop circulation spaceNew CSMT will havegtgt Five acres of rooftop passenger space for circulationgtgt Elevated passenger decks above the railway areagtgt Segregated entry and exit routes to manage crowdsgtgt Retail food and entertainment spaces inside the stationgtgt Souvenir and convenience shopping for passengersgtgt Accesscontrolled station entry systemgtgt The station is expected to function like a mini city centre rail hub where passengers can shop eat or wait without leaving the premisesThe idea Take CSMT back to the 1930sRailway planners told midday the goal is to restore the stationrsquos original spatial designldquoThe idea is to freeze the station to the 1930 levelsrdquo an official saidldquoAll the haphazard developments that came up later will be removed while modern amenities are addedrdquoThe iconic heritage structure itself will remain untouchedFishermen demand safeguardsThe community has called forgtgt Cancellation of the Letter of Intent issued through what it calls a questionable bidding processgtgt A review of the tender processgtgt Assurance that fish market operations will not be disruptedgtgt Consultation with fishermen before any final decision ldquoIf authorities proceed without protecting the market the fishing community will strongly oppose itrdquo Tandel saidCrowd pressureIndicator EstimateDaily passenger movement Among the highest in IndiaPlatforms under current focus 16 17 18Redevelopment model Inspired by UKrsquos Kingrsquos Cross amp St Pancras stnsWhy some say new entry point is neededVivek Pai architect and transport plannerlsquoMultiple horizontal and vertical entry points are essential to handle future commuter demandrsquoHarshad Joshi commuterlsquoA wider exit connecting Manish Market will ease congestion and improve accessrsquoFish market concernsDevendra Tandel Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti SamitilsquoThis is not a small local market but a major fish distribution hub Thousands of fishermen and workers depend on itrdquo The community says nearly 300 fish transport vehicles operate from the site daily and has warned it will oppose plans that threaten livelihoodsrsquoRedevelopment footprintTotal area461534 sq mNew construction279507 sq mRenovation130912 sq mOpen areas37703 sq mOther works13412 sq m