Good Old Bombay VT Station
Good old Bombay VT Station. Designed by Frederick William Stevens in 1887-88. The station took 10 years to complete, and was then named for the reigning monarch Queen Victoria. The full name should, then, read Bombay Victoria Terminus Station.
In 1996, this was renamed the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, after the good old Maratha leader, Shivaji. The name should sound familiar to anyone who travels to Bombay. Everything is named after Shivaji.
No matter, VT was named a World Heritage Site in 2004 by UNESCO.
No matter it is called CST. Everyone calls it VT! Affectionately, it will always remain VT.
A closer look will reveal the fact that we don't really look after it well. It's difficult, no doubt. VT is one of the busiest stations in India. It's the terminal for the Central line of the local train network, as well as for the long distance trains. Makes it difficult.
It's one of those places where there is a constant stream of people. It's one of those places that supports the poor and the homeless. The beggars, and the cheap whores, who service the local constable when he's about to finish his duty and go home to his wife, all find their home there at night. Not always in the main precincts of the station, but in the shadows of the great doorways that lead into the station. Some of them even find their place to sleep on the platform.
By day, it sees the stream of people coming in to office in the morning, and returning home in the evening. It also sees people coming into Bombay after a long journey, and leaving Bombay for a long journey. There is a mass of humanity moving through the station every day. And by night, it transforms itself into a home for the homeless.
It's seen political battles to have the name changed to an Indian name.
It sees people going in and out indifferent to it's majestic beauty.
And, it stays there, beautiful, lovely and dignified. The British heritage cannot be denied, despite the new name. It beautifies Bombay, and helps to make the city what it is.
Bombay, without VT, would not be the same. Nope. Not the same at all.
what a magnificent structure! what makes it even more beautiful is its history and the people around it
Posted by: johanna | June 23, 2008 at 09:42 AM