Project Mumbai to Expand Free Station Library from Churchgate to CSMT

Project Mumbai is preparing to extend its free ‘Library Junction’ initiative to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), expanding a service that provides commuters with free access to books while they wait or travel across the city.

The initiative at the Central Railway terminus is currently being planned in coordination with railway authorities and Project Mumbai. Senior railway officials confirmed that the process to establish the facility at CSMT has already begun, though specific details regarding the launch date and the exact size of the setup are yet to be announced.

The decision to expand follows the response recorded at Churchgate station, where the first Library Junction was launched on June 5, 2026. Data available up to August 12 shows that 1,190 commuters have registered with the Churchgate library, and around 1,500 books have been issued.

Nearly 950 books are currently in circulation with readers, including roughly 200 titles that do not carry barcodes. The Churchgate facility has been adding an average of 20 to 25 new readers each day, while between 100 and 200 commuters and readers visit the installation daily.

The free library model is designed to encourage reading and offer passengers a productive way to spend waiting and transit time. The collection spans multiple subjects, allowing travellers to select books based on their personal interests without paying any borrowing fees.

Officials noted that the Churchgate experiment demonstrated clear public demand for reading services at major transit hubs. By establishing a similar setup at CSMT, one of Mumbai's busiest railway stations handling significant volumes of suburban and long-distance passenger traffic, organizers aim to broaden access and integrate reading into daily commuting routines.