Century old CST finally gets parking facility

Mumbai, Aug 31 (UNI) Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), erstwhile historic Victoria Terminus, the century old railway station of the Central Railways (CR), will finally have a parking facility from September 5.

Addressing a press conference, CR Chief Public Relations Officer Sriniwas Mudgerikar said that the construction work of the parking slot and new entry point from P D'Mellow road have been nearly completed and will be opened for public from September 5.

There was no public parking slot at the CST since its inception and there was a long pending demand for the same.

''At least 250 vehicles can be accommodated at the public parking. Besides, the CR has also created a 'Garden' along side the parking,'' Mr Mudgerikar said.

The CR has developed two new platforms 17 and 18 after the introduction of platform number 16 to handle 24-coach trains. This addition of platforms will enhance CR's carrying capacity by 20 per cent, a CR official said.

Meanwhile, the CR has also announced that the local trains will start halting at 'Kopar' (Lower) the newly created station set up between Diwa and Kalyan stations from September 3.

At least 188 Up and Dn slow trains on the CR will halt at Kopar (L), the CR official said.

The CR had created the Kopar (L) station along side of Kopar Upper level. Trains started halting at the Kopar (U) from December 1, last year.

UNI