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Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victoria Terminus, and better known by its abbreviation CST or
Bombay VT, is a historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways
It is one of the busiest railway stations in India, and serves Central Railway trains
terminating in Mumbai as well as the Mumbai Suburban Railway.
CST is built in a style that combines Gothic and Indian influences . It was completed in 1887,
constructed by Frederick William stevens the building commenced in 1878. It took ten years to complete
and was named “Victoria Terminus” in honor of the Queen and Empress Victoria; it was opened on the
date of her Golden Jubilee in 1887. During its construction, British architects worked with the Indian
craftsmen, exchanging notes to give a new look and style to Bombay.
 This famous architectural landmark in Gothic style was built as the headquarters of the Great Indian
Peninsular Railway. Since then, the station came to be known as Mumbai VT. This Italian gothic
building has a frontage of over 1500 feet. the administrative offices form three sides of a rectangle
enclosing an ornamental garden , the entrance gate guarded by a massive lion and tiger made out of
stone. the most prominent feature of this building is a 160 feet dome crowning the centre . On top of
the giant dome is a figure of a woman with a torch held aloft to symbolize progress. there are also
intriguing figures of peacocks, snakes monkeys and rats. marble columns support the entrance facade.
The main entrance has four great doorways which open to the booking offices. The internal arrangements
were designed to afford a maximum of convenience.
About one thousand trains and two million commuters pass through the terminus, Mumbai’s largest train
station. The local electric trains that ferry in and out of the city leave every three -four minutes.
On the other side of the building the trains pulled by heavy diesel or steam locomotives depart to
different cities and towns.
In 1996, in response to demands by the Shiv Sena and in keeping with the policy of renaming locations
with Indian names, the station was renamed by the state government after Chatrapati Shivaji, the famed
17th century Maratha king. On 2 July 2004, the station was nominated as a World Heritage Site by the
World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
How to reach Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus ?
CST is the first station on the harbour / central line. It is located in South Mumbai.
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