All those years ago, Queen Victoria’s statue had gone missing from its pedestal at the main façade of the Chhatrapati Shivaji (formerly Victoria) Terminus. The mystery continues to baffle heritage lovers and historians. With time, other unfortunate elements of neglect began to emerge. From uncontrolled hawking zones and damage to the structure to poor civic sense within and outside the space, the casual attitude towards the upkeep of a national icon carried on unchecked. Oh, and never mind the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site tag. It would be flaunted whenever required, and for the rest of the time, it would remain an honorary badge that sat smugly on the nameplate. It was in the red (courtesy the generous display of paan stains).

Proposals to ‘beautify’ it would be announced amid much fanfare, and forgotten too, with alarming rapidity. Grandiose, often un-executable plans and even promising ones would occupy reams of newsprint, be implemented for a bit, and lose steam. Of course, with time, we’ve also seen a glimmer of hope amidst all the grey with a gradual increase in awareness levels, but for such a monumental structure and its upkeep, this appears like drops in an ocean. Last week, mid-day reported about the most recent makeover announced by the central government as it was picked as one of the country’s 10 most iconic sites. The plan comes as a much needed shot in the arm for the Gothic masterpiece.