BMC headquarters, CST to get selfie points

Mumbai: The iconic Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in Fort will now get ‘selfie points’, in a bid to boost tourism. The BMC has noticed several tourists click pictures of themselves with these buildings in the background, which are synonymous with the identity of the city. However, to make taking selfies in traffic clogged and crowded areas safer, selfie points will be created around these areas, at a cost of about Rs 80 lakh.

This proposal has been tabled before the standing committee this week for approval. Creating selfie points is part of the BMC’s larger plan of beautifying the CST area, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. It has been decided that a viewing gallery be constructed over the subway between the CST and BMC buildings, and we will set up a selfie point in the area as well.

A senior civic official said, “The CST area is extremely crowded even with locals and office-goers. And tourists throng this area because the two buildings — the BMC headquarters and CST, have become the identity of Mumbai. While the civic body is planning extensive measures to ensure safe and easy passages for pedestrians, once the number of pedestrians increase, tourists will find it very difficult to click photos of the buildings.”

While the selfie point plan is now being chalked out by the BMC’s A ward, the original proposal was mooted by A ward corporator Ganesh Sanap over a year ago.

Mr Sanap planned two selfie points around the CST area — one near the Zunka Bhakar Kendra, and another near Pherozshah Mehta’s statue, where the viewing gallery is presently planned.

Mr Sanap said, “My plan was very rudimentary. We just made raised parapets in both these locations for selfies, but it did not fructify as effectively as assistant commissioner Kiran Dighavkar’s plan. The recent one is better.”