Continued from page 01 THE court had appointed a three- member panel to determine the viability and cost of restoring the 150- year- old structure. While all three were unanimous about saving Esplanade Mansion, there was a discrepancy in the cost.
Conservation architects Abha Lambah and Pankaj Joshi had quoted a figure of R 98 crore, while structural architect Chetan Raikar pegged the amount at R 23 crore.
Lambah defended the higher cost saying her report sought to restore the structure to its former glory. She emphasised on its historical significance, adding that the State had assured UNESCO of restoration before the inscription of u2018 Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbaiu2019 was granted in 2018.
u201c This structure was built in 1869 and it is among the oldest habitable cast- iron constructions in the world. The point of restoration is not just structural integrity but also architectural integrity,u201d Lambah said.
She added that if the interior is left in the haphazard state it is in now, the same problems will resurface again.
Raikaru2019s report, Lambah added, had a lower cost as it excluded aspects such as work on the internal plaster, using teakwood to restore doors, plumbing, fire- prevention systems, elevator overhaul, escape staircases and an external footpath and landscaping work.
Raikar argued that aspects mentioned in Lambah and Joshiu2019s report can be worked on at a lower cost. u201c I have done a 3D analysis to figure out the structural stability and cost.
I feel that restoration should not cost more than R 45 crore to R 50 crore,u201d he said.
Objecting to Lambahu2019s point of restoring the structure to its former glory, Raikar said since the building is occupied, they should be allowed to use the structure the way they want.
Considering Ali had earlier volunteered to foot the entire cost, Justice S J Kathawalla asked his advocate Cherag Balsara to confirm if he will pay R 50 crore, at the next hearing on February 20. Throughout the arguments, the division bench of justices Kathawalla and B P Colabawalla implied that they were interested in more than just making the structure habitable again.
The bench observed that if the state funds the restoration, the building would have to be acquired. u201c The Esplanade Mansion is a cessed building and the costs involved place a huge burden on the state exchequer. Restoration and acquisition together will cost around R 800 crore,u201d said Himanshu Takke, who represented the State. MHADAu2019s advocate, Prakash Lad, added that the landlord took permission every year since 2007 to carry out repairs but did anything.
Whose plan is the best ( and realistic)? Way forward for heritage structure unclear as architects defend viability and affordability of their reports Esplanade Mansion is one of the few surviving cast- iron structures in the world. FILE PIC u2018 This structure was built in 1869 and it is among the oldest habitable cast- iron constructions in the world.
The point of restoration is not just structural integrity but also architectural integrityu2019 Abha Lambah, conservation architect ' 98 crore Restoration cost quoted by conservation architects Abha Lambah and Pankaj Joshi ' 23 crore Restoration cost quoted by structural architect Chetan Raikar
