Space scouting for new premises on as heritage structure likely to become a rail museum
The plans of shifting the office of Central Railway from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) seems to be on hold for now. The expression of interest called by Central Railway seeking to acquire 8,000 square metre office space close to CSMT does not seem to have generated any interest.
Now, senior railway ranks claim that the offices are being shifted within the CSMT station premises, and meanwhile, the hunt for new office space is on. All this is being done to make room for the world-class rail museum that the CR has planned following orders from Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.
There were also talks that the railways will move out of its CSMT headquarters to P D’mello Road. However, till the transition is over, it is looking for an 8,000 square metre office space within a two-kilometre radius of the station. To that end, an expression of interest EOI for hiring office space was floated in December by the CR.
CR General Manager DK Sharma informed DNA: “We are still scouting for space for shifting the office; in the first phase, we are restoring the heritage building, and gradually, as the work starts, our shifting shall begin.”
A senior railway official confirmed that the museum will require two floors, the ground and first, and hence the offices on these floors are being moved. “We have an annex building within CSMT premises, some offices will be moved there. The offices on the ground and first floors of the heritage wing will also be moved to an existing office located on platform number six and seven of CSMT station. The process of hunting for a good office space is on from our side. How many have shown interest will have to be looked into.”
The requirement is for an approximate 8,000 square metre area, preferably in one building in a ready possession premise. The building that CR is looking for should project a professional and aesthetically pleasing appearance and should be approved for office use. There should be a minimum parking space for approximate 20 cars.
The railways have also set out certain criteria for the leasing of space, like it should have a standby generator of sufficient capacity for uninterrupted power supply. The railways will give preference to premises offered by public sector undertaking/government department and government bodies. A realtor from the area said, “The problem is the area of 80,000 sq ft and above is difficult to find in one building and also the conditions are so many that fulfilling all of them is difficult too.”
(Inputs by Shashank Rao)
THE REQUIREMENTS
A senior railway official confirmed that the museum will require two floors, the ground and first, and hence the offices on these floors are being moved. The requirement is for an approximate 8,000 square metre area, preferably in one building in a ready possession premise. The building that CR is looking for should project a professional and aesthetically pleasing appearance and should be approved for office use. There should be a minimum parking space for approximate 20 cars.
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