BMC to restore 200-year-old Khotachiwadi neighbourhood
MUMBAI: To preserve the unique identity and the heritage of 200year-old precinct Khotachiwadi, known for its picturesque oldportuguese style architecture in Girgaon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set to give the neighbourhood a charming makeover.
With this project, the civic body hopes to revive a sense of community among the residents of the gaothan (hamlet) dwarfed by high-rises in the heart of South Mumbai.
The project is in its nascent stage and is still being conceptualised by the civic body, which has roped in Khaki Heritage Foundation as the conservation partner. Over the past few weeks, the lab completed a station survey of Khotachiwadi, and will soon come up with an extensive plan for its revival and preservation. The completed plan is likely to be submitted to the civic body by the end of May for administrative approval.
Prashant Gaikwad, assistant commissioner of the D-ward, with jurisdiction over the area, said, “The plan for revival of this heritage precinct has been taken up by BMC and is currently in the preliminary stages. The conservation architect appointed by BMC will submit a draft plan shortly and the work is in progress.” Tapan Mittal Deshpande, a city-based conservation architect from Khaki Heritage Foundation, who is drafting the restoration concept, said, “This initiative has to be beyond a physical restoration. We want to bring back the sense of community and identity to the residents of Khotachiwadi. This community represents one of the oldest, and original inhabitants of Bombay, now Mumbai. It should reinstate pride in their local culture, identify that their social fabric is distinct, yet an integral part of the city. Through the revival programme, which will be led by the Khotachiwadi Trust, we want to tell a story, about the people of this place, about their lives and ancestry, the history of this locality, and its place in the city.”
The restoration work will include the construction of an archway to establish a sense of entry. It will also get heritage furniture, restored pathways in cement concrete to make it look like cobblestones, and installation of street furniture such as lamp-posts, benches, etc. The street furniture will be selected to blend into the heritage identity of the area. The draft plan is likely to include a wall of fame, to honour famous residents of this gaothan, such as painter Raja Ravi Varma. Besides this, a museum will also be made here for visitors and history enthusiasts. “We see bikers park in the lane and go about their business in the neighbourhood, or sometimes zoom through the lane at high speed, using it as a shortcut,” said Wilfred Felizardo, a resident of Khotachiwadi.