Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus – India

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mumbai’s principal rail gateways, is undergoing a major redevelopment to improve passenger facilities, circulation and multimodal connections while safeguarding its historic character. In 2023, the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) appointed the SYSTRA–Mace joint venture to provide project management consultancy for the programme.

Managing a live heritage terminus

The station serves both suburban and long-distance traffic in a dense historic precinct. The programme must therefore be phased around daily railway operations, passenger flows and the constraints of working within and alongside protected heritage structures.

SYSTRA and Mace are providing project management services across design management, construction management, quality and safety, interface management, testing and commissioning. The assignment requires close coordination between heritage conservation, railway operations, station buildings, passenger systems and connections to surrounding transport modes.

Improving connections while preserving heritage

Dedicated suburban and long-distance passenger nodes are planned, linked by an elevated skywalk to improve movement through the terminus. The roof plaza will bring passenger amenities together above the platforms, including waiting areas, food outlets and commercial space, while supporting clearer interchange between rail and other public transport.

Heritage work focuses on the conservation, restoration and enhancement of the historic station complex, whose Victorian Gothic Revival architecture is blended with elements of traditional Indian design. New interventions must be integrated without compromising the cultural significance and architectural integrity of the UNESCO-listed property.

The wider programme includes passenger-oriented retail and shopping areas, auditoriums for public and cultural use, and modifications to the New Administrative Building to support contemporary operational needs. Together, these elements are intended to modernise the passenger experience while retaining CSMT’s role as both a working terminus and a major Mumbai landmark.