Central Railway Celebrates 100 Years Of Iconic Stations With Grand Station Mahotsav At CSMT (See Pics)

The Central Railway on Wednesday celebrated a grand Station Mahotsav to mark the centenary of six iconic railway stations under its Mumbai Division, with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) taking centre stage in a vibrant display of heritage, history, and innovation.

Held as part of a broader initiative advised by the Railway Board, the Centenary Celebrations featured stations including CSMT, Reay Road, Asangaon, Vasind, Kasara, and Igatpuri — all of which have served passengers for over 100 years. In total, 15 heritage stations across all five divisions of Central Railway are participating in the ongoing Station Mahotsav festivities.

According to CR,  highlight of the day was a grand heritage exhibition at CSMT, which attracted a stream of visitors from across the city. On display were rare artefacts from the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) era, including brass bells, workers’ brass badges, vintage lamp posts, wooden chairs, pendulum clocks, and even the old iron cash boxes once used to store railway earnings.

Miniature models of steam locomotives, GIPR wooden coaches, and a replica of the CSMT heritage building illuminated with coloured lights evoked a strong sense of nostalgia. The exhibition also bridged the past with the future by showcasing scale models of the modern Vande Bharat Express and the upcoming Bullet Train project, giving visitors a glimpse of Indian Railways’ transformation.

"One of the key attractions was a virtual tour of CSMT offered through VR Oculus glasses, allowing guests to experience a 360-degree visual journey of the architectural marvel. Souvenir seekers were thrilled by the range of memorabilia for sale, including diaries, coffee mugs, keychains, T-shirts, and framed photographs of CSMT in both colour and classic black-and-white" said an official 

Adding colour to the festivities, a large thematic Rangoli adorned the suburban concourse of CSMT, drawing admiration from passersby and travellers.

"Meanwhile, other participating stations — Reay Road, Asangaon, Vasind, Kasara, and Igatpuri — also came alive with decorations, and hosted community-driven activities like shramdaan (voluntary cleaning) and plantation drives. Selfie points were set up to allow visitors to capture memories of the day" he said.

"The exhibition, which ran from 11:00 am to 6:00 am, drew hundreds of visitors, including students, professionals, heritage lovers, railway enthusiasts, and long-distance passengers. The event successfully merged heritage, culture, education, and public participation, turning the Station Mahotsav into a memorable tribute to the legacy of Indian Railways" said an official of CR.

"With this vibrant celebration, Central Railway has not only honoured its glorious past but also ignited a renewed interest in railway heritage among the new generation" said Ravindra Jain of Ghatkopar who visited CSMT on Wednesday.