You may soon be able to glug beer inside a train coach at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

Alcohol could soon be served in the air-conditioned coach of a train. Not the one you use to commute obviously, but the AC coach that will be converted into a restaurant very soon and will be parked on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) premises.

This restaurant will also have the open-air option with a view of the railway heritage gully which has British-era artefacts.

As per the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), they have asked for permissions to serve liquor inside this AC coach restaurant.

This will be standing next to platform 18, on the Wadi Bunder side entrance gate which leads people onto Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, which leads on to the Eastern Freeway. This is close to Colaba and Churchgate.

The site next to the heritage gully is of 300 square metre. The Central Railway has placed old engines, rail artefacts and cranes that were in use during British-era.

A single AC coach (or regular coach fitted with AC) will stand at the platform at the level of the coach's entrance door. It will have 60 seats with tables (30 seats inside and 30 outside), and a podium for live musicians. The kitchen space will be outside and is likely to be multicuisine.

Currently the site is covered with trees and bushes with a cement road leading to it.

The railway authorities expect office-goers and party-goers to frequent the AC restaurant.

"If not hard liquor, we are looking to serve at least beer and wine at this restaurant. We have sent the proposal to the headquarters," said an official from IRCTC.

This will be the first time that the Indian Railways is looking at allowing liquor to be served on rail premises, other than in high-end luxury trains like Deccan Odyssey, Palace On Wheels and Maharaja Express.

The coach will most likely be the one that is bound to be condemned as it would not be fit to run. Its cost could be around Rs 10 lakh and above.

Bar On Track 

• The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) says it has asked for permissions to serve liquor inside this AC coach restaurant. 
• This will be the first time that the railways is looking at allowing liquor to be served on rail premises, other than in luxury trains