Portileostah at 03:18, 8 February 2026

2026-02-08T03:18:55Z

New page

{{Short description|Railway station in Maharashtra, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Churchgate [[File:Indian_Railways_Suburban_Railway_Logo.svg|16px]]
| native_name = चर्चगेट
| system = [[Mumbai Suburban Railway]]
| image = Churchgate railway station building.jpg
| image_caption = Churchgate railway station in 2024
| style = Mumbai Suburban Railway
| address = [[Churchgate]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|18|56|5.59|N|72|49|37.79|E|type:railwaystation_region:IN|display=inline}}
| line = {{rcb|Mumbai Suburban Railway|Western|croute}}
| bus_operators = [[Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport|BEST]]
| other = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Logo of Mumbai Metro Line 3.png|12px|link=Aqua Line (Mumbai Metro)]] {{stl|Mumbai Metro|Churchgate}}
}}
| structure = At-grade
| platform = 4 (1-2 for '''slow line''' & 3-4 for '''fast line''')
| depth =
| levels =
| tracks = 4
| train_operators = [[Western Railway zone|Western Railway]]
| parking =
| bicycle =
| baggage_check =
| opened = {{Start date and age|1870|01|10|df=yes}}
| rebuilt = 1876, 1931, 1956
| status = Active
| electrified = {{Ubl|{{Start date|1928|01|05|df=yes}} ([[1500 V DC]])|{{Start date|2012|02|05|df=yes}} ([[25 kV 50 Hz AC]])}}
| code = {{Indian railway code
| code = C
| zone = Western Railway zone
| division = {{rwd|Mumbai WR}}
}}
| owned = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Western Railway zone|Western Railway]]
| former =
| passengers =
| pass_year =
| pass_percent =
| pass_system =
| mpassengers =
| services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Mumbai Suburban Railway|line=Western|right=Marine Lines|header2=Out-of-system interchange|system3=Mumbai Metro|transfer3=Churchgate|line3=Line 3|left3=Vidhan Bhavan|right3=Hutatma Chowk}}
| map_type = Mumbai
| map_dot_label = Churchgate
| route_map = {{MSR Western line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
'''Churchgate''' (station code: '''CCG''') is the southern terminus on the Western Line of the [[Mumbai Suburban Railway]]. It is located in [[Churchgate]], in [[South Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]].

==History==
===Early history===
[[File:Old Churchgate.jpg|thumb|left|Churchgate in the 1930s]]

The Fort area was initially an actual fort enclosure, the fort named the [[English Fort of Bombay]]. It had three main gates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://memumbai.com/old-churchgate/|title=Old Churchgate|website=memumbai.com|date=9 February 2019 }}</ref> One of these gates led straight to [[St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai|Saint Thomas Cathedral Church]], hence, it was named "Church Gate". The fortress was eventually demolished in order to create new spaces for the expansion of the city, in 1860s. The Churchgate railway station was built in 1870, in close proximity to the position of the demolished gate, and hence, got its name.<ref name="Wikimedia Commons 2018">{{cite web|title=File:Churchgate Station Banner.jpg|website=Wikimedia.org|date=14 July 2018|url= https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Churchgate_Station_Banner.jpg|language=en|access-date=14 July 2018}}</ref>

Churchgate station is a [[Terminal station|terminus]] of the [[Western Railway (India)|Western Railway]] line of the [[Mumbai Suburban Railway|Mumbai suburban railway]]. It is the southernmost station of the city, though up to the 1931, Colaba was the southernmost station. However, the rail line was removed beyond Churchgate in the early years of the 1930s (for a reclamation scheme), making Churchgate the southernmost station.<ref name="rail">{{cite book| title=Railway gazette international, Volume 101| year=1954| publisher=Reed Business Pub.}}Page 12</ref><ref name="handbook">{{cite book| title=A handbook for travellers in India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon| author=John Murray (Firm)| year=1965| publisher=John Murray| pages=632}}Page 6</ref>

The Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway (present [[Western Railway (India)|Western Railway]]) was inaugurated in 1855, with the construction of a rail line (BG) between Ankleshwar and Uttaran (a distance of 29 miles).
In 1859, this line was further extended along the west coast up to Bombay. By 1867, a track along the foreshore, further than Grant Road station, was constructed, up to the station named as "[[Bombay Backbay railway station|Bombay Backbay]]" (near Marine Lines) by 1866.
On 12 April 1867, the first suburban train was started, with one train each way from [[Virar railway station|Virar]] to Bombay Back Bay.
The stations were then named: "[[Virar|Viraur]], [[Nallasopara railway station|Neela]], [[Vasai Road railway station|Bassein Road]], Panjo, [[Borivali railway station|Berewla]], Pahadee, [[Andheri railway station|Andaru]], [[Santacruz railway station|Santa Cruz]], [[Bandra railway station|Bandora]], [[Mahim Junction railway station|Mahim]], [[Dadar railway station|Dadur]], [[Grant Road railway station|Grant Road]], and [[Bombay Backbay railway station|Bombay Backbay]]".
[[File:Churchgate station.jpg|thumb|left|Churchgate station (circa 1910), Mumbai, Maharashtra]]
On 18 January 1870, around 5 years after BB&CIR commenced operations from Grant Rd. and Ahmedabad, Churchgate was opened. It began with five trains running each day.
The line was further extended towards Colaba in 1873, and a goods shed was built there. Churchgate station was situated in the heart of the city, and it is quite certain that the old station was not able to cope with the growing demand. The station was hence rebuilt in 1876 with two platforms. Its structure resembled an English inn and was compared by the ''Bombay Guardian'' to a [[Swiss chalet style|Swiss chalet]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahul Mehrotra |first=Sharada Dwivedi |title=Anchoring A City Line |publisher=Eminence Designs Pvt. Ltd |year=2000 |isbn=81-900602-4-4 |pages=36 |language=English}}</ref> The station then had just two platforms. The Up platform catered to passengers arriving from Marine Lines, while the Down platform catered to those travelling towards Marine Lines or further northward. The station also had a level crossing situated to its south. It was used by passengers willing to use the Down Platform, and to prevent pedestrians from crossing the tracks. Around two decades later, the grand BB&CIR headquarters were built just opposite the station, completed by 1899.

In 1920, the Government of Bombay issued order to the BB&CI railway to hand over the section of rail line between Churchgate and Colaba, to allow unrestricted access for the planned Backbay reclamation. In fact, the line extension to Colaba was permitted only on the condition that the extension would be relinquished, should there be further reclamation projects in the vicinity. Amidst this, were the plans for railway electrification. The plans were sanctioned in 1923, and the scheme covered the section between Churchgate and Borivali. For this, the station had to be remodeled extensively. The station was completely renovated in December 1926. A foot-over bridge was provided, and the level crossing practically closed for vehicles and pedestrians. Besides, the covered portion of the station was extended, with an extension of 200 ft south of the bridge, and 100ft in the north.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahul Mehrotra |first=Sharada Dwivedi |title=Anchoring A City Line |publisher=Eminence Designs Pvt. Ltd |year=2000 |isbn=81-900602-4-4 |pages=106 |language=English}}</ref> In August 1928, the section from Churchgate to Grant Rd was track circuited on Alternating Current.

In view of the upcoming reclamation, [[Mumbai Central railway station|Bombay Central]] (Mumbai Central), a new station, was constructed near Bellasis Bridge and was opened on 18 December 1930.<ref>''A Century of Suburban Service'' ,1961 Westrail News- https://wr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1392817958306-article2.pdf</ref> From the midnight of 31 December, Colaba station ceased to be a terminus, and the line then terminated at Churchgate from the New Year's Day of 1931.<ref name="Wikimedia Commons 2018" /> The station had to be again remodeled, and changes included the demolishing of the old level crossing, and the footbridge.

By 1936, the entire portion of the line between Churchgate and Bandra was equipped with 169 colour light signals, 89 operated shunt signals, and 112 power-worked points.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahul Mehrotra |first=Sharada Dwivedi |title=Anchoring A City Line |publisher=Eminence Designs Pvt. Ltd |year=2000 |isbn=81-900602-4-4 |pages=112 |language=English}}</ref>

On 28 April 1952, modern rakes were introduced with the new chocolate and cream livery between Churchgate and Borivali. In July 1955, the first pedestrian subway in India was opened, near the Churchgate station.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahul Mehrotra |first=Sharada Dwivedi |title=Anchoring A City Line |publisher=Eminence Designs Pvt. Ltd |year=2000 |isbn=81-900602-4-4 |pages=124,127 |language=English}}</ref> The station underwent its final reconstruction in the mid 1950s, converting the humble station to a seven storied building, offering better amenities like booking offices, sanitation facilities, and above all, bringing all the scattered offices of the railway to a single building. The new (the current) building was finally inaugurated on 3 June 1957.

===Current history===

Presently, this station is home to the [[Western Railway (India)|Western Railway]] headquarters. The older Western Railway headquarters is across the road. Today, the station is one of the busiest stations in the city. Trains arrive and depart every minute with clockwork precision. Millions of city dwellers residing in the suburbs alight at this station to get to their offices in the business districts of South Mumbai. The total cost of the reconstruction of Churchgate station was approximately INR 12.8 million, which includes the remodelling of the yard, the construction of platforms, station premises, and offices.<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1626/1/lsd_02_02_29-07-1957.pdf page 11</ref>

The station is the terminus for local trains on [[Western Railways]]. The earliest train departs at 4:15 for [[Virar]], and the last train departs at 1:00 towards [[Borivali]].

Till 2010, the station had platforms which could accommodate 9 and 12 coach trains. But with the introduction of 15-coach trains there was a need to extend the length of the platform. Hence, in Dec 2010 work began on extension of the platforms to accommodate the 15-coach trains,<ref>{{cite news|title=Churchgate platform extension|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_extension-of-platforms-at-churchgate-for-15-car-trains_1480455|access-date=29 August 2012|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=13 December 2010}}</ref>

On 28 June 2015, a train derailed after crashing into the end of the platform after not stopping in time. Five people were injured.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-local-train-crashes-into-platform-at-churchgate-four-injured/|title = Train rams into buffer, 5 injured|date = 29 June 2015}}</ref>

In February 2023, at the first national executive meeting the [[Shiv Sena]] party, a resolution was passed to rename the station to "Chintamanrao Deshmukh station", after former [[Reserve Bank of India|RBI]] governor and Union Finance Minister [[C. D. Deshmukh]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-02-24 |title=Mumbai's Churchgate railway station to be renamed after India's first RBI Governor |url=https://www.lokmattimes.com/maharashtra/mumbais-churchgate-railway-station-to-be-renamed-after-indias-first-rbi-governor-a475/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Lokmat Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Choudhury |first=Snigdha |title=Mumbai’s Iconic Churchgate Railway Station To Be Renamed: Who Is CD Deshmukh And How Names Are Changed? |url=https://www.india.com/maharashtra/mumbai-churchgate-railway-station-renamed-chintamanrao-deshmukh-who-is-cd-deshmukh-how-names-are-changed-5919762/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=India.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Anushka |date=2023-02-22 |title=Mumbai's Churchgate railway station to be renamed after first Indian RBI governor CD Deshmukh |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/mumbais-churchgate-railway-station-to-be-renamed-after-first-rbi-governor-16006081.htm |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=CNBCTV18 |language=en}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Churchgate station - External view.jpg|Platforms extend beyond the canopy
File:A Local Train entering into Churchgate Station.jpg|View of a Local Train entering Churchgate Pf.1
File:Churchgate Station Platform.jpg|Churchgate station platform 2/3
File:Damaged bumper of Churchgate station 2015.jpg|Damaged buffer, post the accident on 28 June 2015.
File:Gandhi Mural on Churchgate Station Building-2.jpg|Churchgate station with Mural of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] by Brazilian artist [[Eduardo Kobra]]
File:Churchgate railway station sign.jpg|Churchgate Railway Station sign
File:Churchgate Station Banner.jpg|Churchgate station Banner
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Churchgate railway station}}
* [http://www.vimeo.com/258300 Video Tour of Churchgate Station Terminus]

{{Railway stations in Maharashtra}}
{{Mumbai - Suburban Railway, Western}}

[[Category:Railway stations in India opened in 1855]]
[[Category:Mumbai WR railway division]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Mumbai City district]]
[[Category:Mumbai Suburban Railway stations]]

Churchgate railway station - Revision history

Portileostah at 03:18, 8 February 2026