CR wants to revamp burnt CST shop

The Central Railway (CR) is planning to pull down the burnt shop and shed behind Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) which was burnt in a fire on Thursday.

The Central Railway (CR) is planning to pull down the burnt shop and shed behind Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) which was burnt in a fire on Thursday.

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A major mishap was averted after a fire broke out possibly due to a gas cylinder leak and explosion. The railways is mulling to pull down the burnt structure and redevelop the space.

Built in 1965 as an extension to the heritage Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) building, the shop was run by the CR Employees Co-operative Society. “Various departments have shown interest in using this place as office space,” said chief PRO of CR, V Malegaonkar. Sources said the CR authorities at the divisional level have asked to demolish the structures that have been damaged due to fire and rebuild it.

The extent of the damage will be known only after the three-member committee submits its report to the general manager. “The co-operative society will have to be relocated and this would be assessed after the report is submitted,” said a CR official on condition of anonymity.

General manager Kul Bhushan has also briefed the Railway Board in Delhi about the incident. The authorities are looking at the working condition of water hydrants at CST building and station. “We expect the report within two days,” he added.