The Draft Colaba

By Manu Shrivastava

It’s only the second week of February and the slots for the heritage walks inside Mumbai’s BMC headquarters, for the entire month, are already sold out! Such is the excitement among Mumbaikars who can’t wait to get a glimpse of the exquisite interiors of the 128-year-old architectural marvel.

After the inauguration by CM Uddhav Thackeray on 28 January 2021, the first walk for select individuals was conducted on the morning of 30 January 2021 and attended by Tourism and Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar among other officials.

EXQUISITE: A shot of the interiors of the BMC headquarters

Expressing confidence in the initiative, Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray said, “The opening for visitors was long overdue. The structure represents great architecture, good governance and the fact that Mumbai was called Urbs Prima in Indis even a century ago.”

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar welcomed the 15 participants of the first-ever heritage tour of the BMC building ‘open to public’ conducted on 30 January 2021 at 4 pm and presented them with bouquets and BMC calendars. Speaking about the unique initiative, the mayor noted, “The BMC has opened its doors to tourists for the first time.”

TOGETHER: CM Thackeray (centre) with Aditya Thackeray, Mayor Kishori Pednekar and others at the inaugural ceremony

The tour starts from Gate No 2 of the BMC Headquarters where participants first meet. After a 10-minute briefing on the BMC building and CST, about why they were constructed and how, the batch is taken into the building.

Kasara-based gardener Sampat Kunde employed with the BMC’s garden department has spent the last 25 years tending to the green patches around the building. “I have been working here for decades maintaining the garden outside the building and the plants inside the premises. Whenever people come here to click pictures, they always ask if they can go inside and shoot. Everyone is fascinated with the structure and wants to see the interiors. Their wait is finally over,” says Sampat.

Colleague and gardener GTP Nagar-based Ganeshan Viran offers, “It’s a beautiful building and even more fascinating inside. It’s good that public can go inside now.”

HELPFUL: Gardeners Sampat Kunde (left) and Ganeshan Viran outside the BMC headquarters

During the first weekend, four tours were conducted - two on Saturday evening and two on Sunday morning. As of now, the tickets can be booked at a cost of Rs 300 per person and online through the ticketing portal Book My Show only. This is the plugged to be the first municipal corporation in the country to organise such a Heritage Walk.

In the last seven years of her duty at BMC headquarters as security guard, Kalyan-based Anita Hazare has been inside the exquisite structure innumerable times. “I still get awestruck by the beauty of this place. It’s just so exquisite, the architecture, the stairs, etc.,” she says.

Anita Hazare

MTDC personnel Nikhil Dhanwatey who attended the first-ever walk open to public on Saturday evening, said, “It was a grand experience. It’s one of those thousands of structures we take for granted in Mumbai, like those myriad monuments we see along the way and don’t know what’s inside. The one hour 15 minute walk was a revelation, for me.

"I particularly liked the majestic lions next to the staircase. It’s a pretty well-maintained building and it was unexpected to see everything in such good condition despite the popular perception of governmental buildings being in a state of perpetual ruin and disarray. It must be great to work in a place like this!”

The heritage walk of the BMC headquarters is being organised with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). The walks are planned for weekends with two slots in the morning and two in the evening on Saturday and Sunday each. Each slot accommodates maximum 15 persons presently.

Milloni Doshi

"For more than seven years, I'd pass by the beautiful BMC building, always wondering about its history and origin. Only now did I get the chance to step inside and witness it in full grandeur,” recalls Ghatkopar-based Milloni Doshi, another participant of the first-ever heritage walk for public conducted inside the iconic BMC building. "It was truly a memorable moment for me."

History enthusiast Raviraj Pawar always wanted to see the inside of the BMC building. “Being a student of history, I was particularly interested in exploring but never got a chance earlier. It’s such an old structure with Gothic architecture… because of the walk I got a chance to see the smallest details inside such as the windows, the façade, etc. It was fascinating!”

The municipal building is a combination of the Venetian Gothic and Indo-Saracenic architecture. Two designs were considered for the building - Gothic designs done by Frederick William Stevens and Indo-Saracenic design by Robert Fellowes Chisholm. Eventually, a blend of Venetian Gothic and Indo-Saracenic was finalized. The construction of the iconic building began in 1884 and was completed in 1893.

HISTORIC: This is the first time the BMC headquarters have been opened to public for guided tours

“It’s a wonderful endeavour by the State Government to put in limelight the works of those who have been associated with the BMC Headquarters,” says Girgaum-based septuagenarian Ramesh Salvi. “It’s time, tourists shed the general perception that governmental buildings and structures are old and dilapidated. I feel strongly on this issue and hope that the trend of changing this perception continues,” adds the retired banker.

During the heritage walk, the participants get an opportunity to saunter through the historic building, transverse the majestic staircase, watch the heritage dome, pass through the courtyards of the building, BMC commissioner’s office, Mayor’s chamber, etc.

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