Civic body nod for ₹19-lakh revamp of Khotachiwadi

MUMBAI: After a delay of several months, the restoration work of the 200-year-old Khotachiwadi gaothan near Girgaum will begin in December.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) floated tenders for the project on Friday and said the work will be carried out in phases. The work was supposed to begin after monsoon, but was stuck due to financial constraints.

Vishwas More, assistant commissioner of D ward, said, the project includes restoration of the gaothan’s internal road, which is 750 metres. In the first phase, they will restore 150 metres of the road.

“The project was stuck due to budget constraints and has finally been approved with an estimated cost of ₹19 lakh. The final approvals from BMC came through on Wednesday,” More said. The project is aimed at restoring the heritage precinct of the gaothan and also improving its infrastructure. It will beautify the precinct, make it tourismfriendly and restore amenities.

“The settlement has about 30 colonial style houses remaining. Through the project, we want to restore the drains, the cobble pathway and make more space to access each home,” More said,

According to the plan, the first phase will restore the entrance to the Khotachiwadi Heritage precinct, which will be decorated with a green canopy and an art installation. Tapan Deshpande, the architect appointed by BMC to work on the project, said, “The Khotachiwadi revival plan is the start to bridge the gap between the people and their ward office to collectively revive their cultural heritage.”