In 2015, the Jamshetjee Nessarwanjee Petit Institute and Library at Fort was the pride of Dr DN Road. The restoration of the 119-year-old building, had been recognised by the 2015 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards winners. But two years on, Petit has become more of a symbol of DN Road's concern. Will the construction of Line 3 of the Mumbai Metro project, extending from Seepz to Colaba, past the nearly kilometre-long stretch, cause irreparable damage to the heritage buildings that line the road and give it its unique identity?

On August 25, a limestone finial, an ornamental piece on the Petit structure, fell off the building on the garden side from a height of 10 metres. Following this, the trustees of Petit moved the Bombay High Court, blaming the Metro construction, pleading that work on the same around the Neo Gothic structure be ceased till a comprehensive structural survey is undertaken. While the case came up for hearing on Friday — [see box: The Petit case] — concerns have emerged regarding other structures along the stretch.