Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Built in Gothic-revival style in 1887, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) is one of India’s busiest and most beautiful railway stations. Lit up on special occasions like Diwali, Independence and Republic Day, it is a sight to behold. After the horrific attacks in Paris, when several iconic buildings across the world were lit up in the French national flag’s colours, the CST decided to follow suit.

Newspapers were informed of the shared grief between Paris and Mumbai, since several people were killed at CST on 26/11. “The Central Railways has decided to stand by France in this moment of grief,” a spokesperson of Central Railways told Mid-day. “The CST station will be illuminated with the French flag .” But when the lights eventually came on, it wasn’t the vertical bands of blue, white and red of the French flag. It was instead three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue, which happens to be the formation and colours of the Dutch national flag. The Railway authorities however refused to acknowledge the gaffe. Last seen the PRO of Central Railways was seen replying to several tweets with, ‘We had mentioned French colours not French flag in our official Tweet’.

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