Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus of Mumbai declared World Heritage Building
	16:42 IST

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus of Mumbai (formerly Victoria Terminus) has been declared as a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO in its twenty-eighth Annual Session at Suzhou, China. The inscription reads, “The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus of Mumbai exhibits an important interchange of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture, and from Indian traditional buildings, it became a symbol for Mumbai as a major mercantile port city on the Indian subcontinent within the British Commonwealth.” “The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is an outstanding example of late 19th Century railway architecture in the British Commonwealth, characterized by Victorian Gothic Revival and traditional Indian features, as well as its advanced structural and technical solutions.” This is the 2nd ‘World Heritage Site’ on the Indian Railways after the Darjeeling Hill Railways. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the administrative headquarters of Central Railway. This name was given to this world heritage building in 1996. The construction of the building was started in 1878 and completed after 10 years in May 1888. It is now 117 years old architectural marvel of the 19th century British Empire. The building was designed by the famous architect F.W. Stevens. It is a classic example of ‘Gothic-Saracenic’ style of architecture. It contains a series of proportioned and delicately ornamented arches giving it a look of a grand cathedral. This effect is further heightened by a central dome and a smaller domes conical towers. The lancet windows in the dome and towers are of ornate – stained glass and like the rest of the building are made out of solid cut stoned–masonry super–imposed by delicate art work. The apex of the dome is crowned by a classical figure of 16 feet 6 inches of height, a lady holding a flaming torch in her right hand and a spoked wheel in her left hand. The statue symbolizes ‘Progress’.