Mumbai First, along with Making A Difference Foundation, has worked towards adopting 36 railway stations while encouraging citizens and corporates to do the same under the title Hamara Station, Hamari Shaan
Every day while travelling by trains, we hear the announcer say, “The station is your property. Please keep it clean.” While we wish our stations reflected an international standard and that people would not spit or throw garbage onto the tracks, we, as citizens haven’t done much but lament.
However, Mumbai First, along with Making A Difference (MAD) Foundation are working together to revamp the railway stations in the city. Till date, 36 stations on the Western and Central line have been adopted by individuals and companies as part of the renovation programme titled ‘Hamara Station, Hamari Shaan’.MAD and Mumbai First met under the the umbrella of a Daan Utsav meeting where Mumbai First offered to scale up their initiative.
An extensive project
Joshi added that following the painting of Khar Road, Borivali and Matunga stations, MAD approached Mumbai First wondering which station they could adopt next. “Instead of taking one station at a time, we decided to make it a large-scale project. We approached the railways suggesting that we revamp 41 stations. However, only 36 have been approved,” he added.
Stations that get a makeover
21 stations approved on the Western Suburban Railway network
- Churchgate, Marine Lines, Charni Road, Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, Elphinstone Road, Dadar, Bandra, Santacruz, Vile Parle, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali, Dahisar. Matunga, Khar, Borivali
15 stations approved on the Central Railway network
- Masjid Bunder, Sandhurst Road, Byculla or Bhaykhala, Chinchpokli, Currey Road, Parel, Sion (Sheev), Kurla, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, Bhandup, Nahur, Mulund,Thane
How does it all work?
Currently, a number of entries are being sent to the railways for approval. These entries are sketches made by design students. “The art will be associated with the station and its history. After the sketches are approved, volunteers and citizens can come and paint the station. We’d like for it to be more citizen-driven and inclusive,” Joshi said.
In addition to the painting of the stations, there are plans to provide more drinking water facilities and cleaner toilets. According to Joshi, a number of companies are contributing to the cause because they feel that the railways are an integral part of their lives. “Earlier, if one would approach a person making a mess, they would retort with, ‘Tumhara baap ka station hai kya?’ Now if an individual catches someone messing up a station, they can say, ‘Nahi, yeh hamara station hai.’ This project will create a sense of ownership towards the station and we, as citizens of Mumbai, will do whatever we can to keep it clean,” concluded Joshi.
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