While most sites yearn for a heritage status from the Unesco, the Central Railway (CR) wants the tag removed from 20 acres of its prime open plot at P D’mello road near CST.
While most sites yearn for a heritage status from the Unesco, the Central Railway (CR) wants the tag removed from 20 acres of its prime open plot at P D’mello road near CST.
CR wants to exploit the plot commercially and has written to Unesco and the Mumbai heritage conservation committee asking them to withdraw the heritage status given to the plot.
Railways own almost 90 acres of the area, including the 123-year-old main CST building.
As per current market value, the plot on P D’mello road can fetch Rs800 crore to Rs900 crore to CR. The body wants to use the money for the CST revamp plan and to maintain heritage structures.
“The real estate market is not good at the moment, but still the plot can be sold between Rs800 crore and Rs900 crore. If the CR builds residential plus commercial towers, it can fetch even more,” said a real estate expert.
CR spokesperson AK Singh said they have written a letter to Unesco and the Mumbai heritage conservation committee for commercial exploitation of the said plot, but refused to elaborate further. Members of the heritage committee are upset with the CR’s decision.
“There are very rare locations on Unesco’s heritage list - CST is one of them. CR is not a commercial body to sell or exploit its land for commercial use. It has got enough money to preserve heritages sites. They do not need to withdraw the heritage status from one of the most important locations,” said a member of the condition of anonymity.
Another member was furious that CR planned to sell the land instead of preserving it. “At present, the plot is used as a buffer zone. It is sad and shocking that for monetary gain, CR is reducing the heritage precinct area,” he said.
“In other places in the world, authorities are keen on maintaining and preserving locations apart from adding unnoticed old sites on Unesco’s heritage list. Our emotions and history are attached to these places. It is a proud feeling to be on the Unesco list.”
Heritage committee chairman DK Afzalpurkar refused to comment.
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