Heritage site: Unesco roped in for conservation project HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, |Updated: Jun 27, 2015 16:58 IST

An exhibition was organised to highlight the heritage aspects of Bandra railway station, at Bandra station. (Vidya Subramanian/HT photo)

Bandra station is set to get upgraded. Apart from retaining its heritage value, the Western Railway (WR) plans to improve passenger amenities around the station — a move, which will help decongest its exit-entry points.

The upgradation plan has inched a step closer to reality with railway minister Suresh Prabhu and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday for the heritage conservation and development of Bandra station.

“Bandra is an important station considering that 1,000 of the 1,350 suburban trains travel to and fro it every day. We have roped in Unesco as a consultant. Unesco will prepare a detailed report on what measures need to be taken to upgrade the station while ensuring that its heritage value is retained,” said Prabhu.

In July, Unesco will conduct a study of the station and prepare a detailed report, which is likely to be completed by the end of this year.

Based on the study, a report on redesigning the surrounding public spaces to improve traffic flow, signage, pedestrian paths, public amenities and cultural vibrancy, will be prepared.

Shigeru Aaoyagi, director, Unesco, India, confirmed Bandra will be their third project where they will act as consultants to conserve a station as a heritage site for the .

Prior to this, they were consultants for the conservation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Darjeeling station.

As part of upgrading Bandra station, the railway plans to introduce 3D simulation to highlight the station’s heritage aspects in the main station building.

The National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, will assist the railways in this aspect of the project.