BMC to undertake restoration work in two phases — correcting plumbing issues, which would take about six months, and then beautifying the surroundings
Mumbai's iconic Flora Fountain all set to get a plumbing job
Restoration work has commenced on the iconic structure. Pic/Sneha Kharabe
South Mumbai’s iconic landmark Flora Fountain is finally up for a revamp. After a year’s delay, the civic body has started the much-awaited restoration work, which will be done in two phases.
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The first phase includes checking and correcting plumbing issues and redoing water engineering, while in the second, the sculpture’s conservation and beautification will be done.
Work on the heritage monument located in Fort area’s Hutatma Chowk kicked off last week and will take six months to complete. The BMC has appointed the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for it and is going to spend Rs 2.34 crore on it.
The Grade-I heritage structure was built in 1864 to depict the Roman god Flora. The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) had approved the restoration plan in 2013 and work was supposed to start last October. However, the lack of an expert agency delayed it for a year.
Work on a war footing
Assistant Municipal Commissioner of A ward (CST, Colaba) Kiran Dighavkar said, “We will try to restore the old beauty of the structure. We have already begun the work and should be able to finish it within six months.” “The fountain was not operational and in a dilapidated condition for years,” said a senior civic official.
The proposal for restoring the fountain was passed this March during a civic standing committee meeting. The BMC has appointed M/s Vikas Dilawari as consultant for the project after approving its plan in 2011. The MHCC too has given its nod for the project.
Expert speak
Speaking to mid-day, architect and heritage conservationist Dilawari said, “We will try to restore the fountain’s water system, and cleaning will be done in a scientific manner. In the next phase, we will start improving the structure’s surroundings by developing a landscape.”
“The fountain was constructed in memory of then governor Sir Henry Bartle Frere, as he had contributed towards making Mumbai a beautiful city. It was meant to be placed in a botanical garden as it has four women and Flora on the top to depict an agricultural theme. It is also known as Frere Fountain but popularly called Flora Fountain,” he added.
According to civic officials, the restoration would also require Portland stone from which the fountain is constructed.
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