Rlys clear historic Carnac Bunder station of slums

Rajendra Aklekar
Mumbai, Sept 7
FOLLWING media attention after the Hindustan Times report on the old
cargo station, the Central Railway on Friday cleared more than 25
slums that were present in the station complex. More than 65 dwellers
from 25 families had set up their shanties on this old Victorian age
station.

The railway administration however maintained that the slum
demolition was a part of routine clearances as Mumbai CST is a part
of the new proposed world-class stations.

Railway Protection Force officials on site said the occupants were
suspected to be Bangadeshi nationals as none of them could tell
clearly where they came from. The Central Railway had cleared land of
about 20 acres as a part of their project to open a second entrance
to Mumbai CST station along P D D'Mello Road.

The railway, however, did not demolish one particular cargo station
as the shed was found to have original teak furnishings and
cobblestone flooring. After HT highlighted this issue, this is the
first tangible step that the railway administration has taken on the
old shed.

"The slums have been cleared and the occupants will not be allowed to
set up their sheds again," a senior official said. The new entrance
and three new platforms were opened without fanfare on September 5.
Besides the old station, there is also an old steam-operated crane.
The railway proposes to send a few of these artifacts to the National
Railway Museum in New Delhi.