The Hindu : National : Shivaji Terminus in World Heritage List

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Thursday, Mar 31, 2005

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National

Shivaji Terminus in World Heritage List

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 30. The Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) in Mumbai has found a place in the World Heritage List. A certificate to this effect was received by the Chairman of the Railway Board, R.K. Singh, from UNESCO, Paris, today.

The officer-in-charge of culture, UNESCO (New Delhi), presented the certificate in the presence of a large number of Board officials. The decision to include the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in the World Heritage List was taken by the World Heritage Committee at its 28th session in Suzhou, China, last year.

The CST is an outstanding example of Victorian gothic revival architecture, but the stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and the eccentric ground plan are essentially Indian. The British architect, F.W. Stevens, who designed the building, worked with Indian craftsmen to include Indian motifs, thus forging a new style unique to Mumbai.

The construction of the terminal began in 1878 and continued for a decade. Today, it is a symbol of the metropolis' status as a gothic city and a major international port.

The CST is also the focal point of the high quality of urban fabric in the fort precinct and forms a fine example of the city's development in the 19th century. The Railway Ministry is conserving the CST for its architectural splendour, cultural values and as a World Heritage site.

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