In a major setback to the project to make the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) a world class station, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) that offers advice to the World Heritage Committee, has rejected the Indian Railway’s request to reduce the buffer zone around CST.
The Central Railway had submitted a proposal seeking United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (Unesco) permission to reduce the buffer zone around CST so that
they could implement the `3000 crore-project to revamp CST. The Icomos noted that the “proposal should not be approved and a ‘Heritage Impact Assessment’ should be carried out so that the development project does not impact the heritage value of the property”.
The Icomos has submitted its report to the World Heritage Committee, which will be conducting its 36th ordinary session from June 24 to July 6 at St Petersburg, Russian Federation.
Constructions are restricted in buffer zones to protect the heritage value of the site. To redevelop the Unesco-listed heritage station into a world-class one, the CR had sought permission to reduce the buffer zone. Earlier, several modifications were made in the makeover plan, so that it did not hurt the heritage value of the site.
Icomos observed that facilities and improvement of the station can be done without reduction of the buffer zone. “Construction may jeopardise the value of heritage property” it remarked.
Railway officials in Mumbai, however, said that “they are yet to receive any information on this.”
The plan included swanky developments such as a five-star hotel in the station premises, shops, an architecturally distinctive gateway, improved track layout, modern finishing material and operational offices for the railway staff.
CST is the only railway terminus in the world to boast of the World Heritage Site tag.