Here’s what you dome know: Behind the scaffolding, CSMT’s grand revival unfolds

Stone by stone Mumbairsquos crown is being rebuilt High above the chaos of Mumbairsquos busiest railway station beyond the gaze of the millions who stream through its platforms every year the fractured Victorian dome of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is quietly being brought back to lifeConservation work underway atop the weathered Victorian dome at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus PicsSayyed Sameer AbediThe dome is hidden behind scaffolding midday takes you behind the scaffolding where craftsmen are repairing weathered stone cleaning decades of algae growth and restoring intricate Gothic detailing on the UNESCO World Heritage structure The massive restoration exercise being undertaken by CR with guidance from heritage experts combines oldworld craftsmanship with modern technology such as radar scans and drone surveysWhat is being restoredgtgt Cracked and weathered dome stoneworkgtgt Removal of algae and vegetation growth on exterior surfacesgtgt Damaged ornamental carvings and detailinggtgt Structural weak spots identified through radar scansgtgt The fivetonne Statue of Progress atop the domeRadar scans reveal hidden damageA radar scan and drone survey carried out by Central Railway a few years ago detected structural issues inside the dome that were not visible to the naked eye Officials said these weak spots were repaired earlier but a larger conservation programme has now been launched to restore the structure comprehensivelyThe iconic dome of CSMT undergoes repairs as part of an extensive heritage conservation exercise Pic Rajendra AklekarAs CSMT is a Grade I heritage building and UNESCO World Heritage Site the work is being handled by specialised teams including conservation engineers stone craftsmen skilled labourers and site supervisors trained in heritage restorationThe science behind the restorationCleaning the structuregtgt Highpressure water jets are used to remove algaegtgt Vegetation was carefully removed without damaging the stone surfacesgtgt Stained glass window panes are protected during cleaningRepairing damagesgtgt Cracks in weathered stone are being filled and strengthenedgtgt Decorative detailing recreated using papiermache sculpting techniquesRestoring the Statue of ProgressOfficials said papiermache is being used ldquoPapiermache is a process where shredded waste paper is mixed with an adhesive binder The dried pulp has a hard finish which allows sculpting intricatelyrdquo an official saidCSMT at a glancegtgt Formerly known as Victoria Terminusgtgt Construction began in 1878gtgt Designed by British architect Frederick William Stevensgtgt Built over a span of 10 yearsgtgt UNESCO World Heritage Site status granted in 2004gtgt Known for Gothic Revival architecture gargoyles spires and stone carvings of local wildlifeExpert agencies involvedAccording to railway officials the restoration process involved consultations withgtgt Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage INTACHgtgt Central Building Research InstituteThe agencies assessed the strength and stability of the 138yearold structure before restoration beganSpokespreson SpeaksDr Swapnil Nila chief spokesperson Central RailwaylsquoThe restoration is done internally by the Central Railway with the guidance of subject experts to restore each and every minute detail of the stone buildingrsquoHistorians SpeakDeepak Rao City historianlsquoIt is an iconic building and a structure that has witnessed Mumbai grow into a megacity Conservation of the place is important The CSMT restoration should become a model for conservation across the cityrsquos historic infrastructurersquoBharat Gothoskar City chroniclerlsquoThe restoration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is not merely about preserving a historic building it is about safeguarding one of Mumbairsquos most powerful public symbols The challenge is to balance conservation with the daily pressures of a living heavily used railway stationrsquo