Press Release: Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Railways

Byculla Railway Station restored to its original, ancient, heritage glory

MoS Railways Rao Saheb Danve Patil says Railway Board has approved significant fare reduction of AC Mumbai Local trains

Posted On: 29 APR 2022 6:10PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 29 April 2022

The Byculla Railway Station in Mumbai, through which the first train of the country passed through a century and a half ago, has been restored to its original Gothic, heritage, architectural glory. The ceremonial inauguration of the renovated and restored railway station took place today, in the presence of the Minister of State for Railways Rao Saheb Patil Danve.

Speaking on the occasion, MoS Railways said that the Ministry has taken up restoration of 120 stations across the country, out of which work is in progress in 25 railway stations across the country.

The heritage restoration of the Byculla Railway Station, originally built in 1853, had been initiated in 2019, when Shri Piyush Goyal was the Railway Minister. This project has been initiated by Ms. Shaina NC, Trustee of I Love Mumbai Foundation with the support of Bajaj Trust groups and Abha Narain Lambah Associates, as their CSR initiative under the guidance of Central Railway officials. Minal Bajaj and Niraj Bajaj of Bajaj Group and Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation funded this restoration project of more than Rs.4 crore.

Signage which is a very important component of design has been implanted using original signage bracket designs discovered on site during the restoration works. The grill is now painted as per the historic paint scrapes found on site and stands of teak wood paneling forming a large ticketing window with a tinted glass fanlight.

The exercise of facade restoration included cleaning of the basalt stone facade, restoration of original fenestration such as doors, windows, grills and gates. Restoration of the timber truss roof, Mangalore tiles and smaller lean-to roofs along the facade was done. Addition of ramps, steps etc was also done in order to make the station accessible to all.

“The task of the entire planning and execution has been completed and Byculla Railway Station has been restored to its almost original, ancient, heritage architecture,” stated Conservation Architect Abha Narain Lambah, who was in charge of this project.

Other significant announcements.

The Minister Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve announced that the Railway Board has given approval to the reduction of AC local fares in Mumbai by almost 50 percent for single ticket fares. The Minister further elaborated stating that fare amount of Rs 135/- will stand as Rs 65/- (for 25 km distance), Rs 205/- will as Rs 100/- (for 50 km distance) and so on, after implementation of reduced fares.

The Minister further said that a proposal to provide airport like infrastructure at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is on the cards. Shri Danve Patil further said prior to 2014, the Railway Budget allocated to the state of Maharashtra was around Rs. 1,100 Crore which has gone up to Rs. 11,000 Crore in this year. Nashik-Pune Railway Connectivity project has been approved by NITI Aayog yesterday and work will commence soon, after getting Union Cabinet’s approval, informed Shri Danve Patil. Nanded – Yavatmal -Wardha railway connectivity budget has been approved, he added.

Speaking about electrification of Konkan Railway, the Minister informed that the work has been completed and will be inaugurated in a week or two. Electrification in the Manmad-Hyderabad line is in progress, the stretch between Aurangabad and Manmad has been completed, he further informed. By 2023 all broad-gauge lines in the country will get electrified, added the Minister.