Byculla Station Wins UNESCO's Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage Award

In July 2023, 'Byculla Railway Station' was given UNESCO's Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage Award. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav received the award, plaque and certificate on behalf of 'Byculla Railway Station'.

Mumbai's 169-year-old Byculla Railway Station is one of the oldest railway stations in India which was renovated a few years back.

• In the year 2022, four of the four awards were given to India for the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2022.

• The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) had also won the highest award of excellence at the UNESCO Asia Pacific Awards 2022 for Cultural Heritage Conservation last year when Byculla Railway Station was recognised.

Byculla Railway Station

• Byculla Railway Station, Mumbai was built in the year 1853 (169 years ago).

• By renovating the Byculla Railway Station, its original, ancient, architecture has almost been brought alive.

UNESCO Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage Award

• The award was started by UNESCO in 2000. However, starting from 2021, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Prize for Cultural Heritage Conservation receives support through a collaboration between UNESCO and the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation.

• Its purpose is to promote the conservation of such cultural heritage areas, whose conservation efforts have been initiated by any individual or institution.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): 

• Established: 16 November 1945

• Headquarters: Paris, France

• Member countries: 193

• Objective: To eliminate illiteracy and encourage free education.

• Director General: Audrey Azoulay (France)

• First Director General: Julian Huxley (Great Britain).