If all goes per plan, Mumbai may soon get its Fort back. For the uninitiated, Mumbai's Fort area in South Mumbai gets its name from an actual fort that existed in the area in the 17th century. And now, the BMC plans to rebuild the heritage fort, to rake in some tourist dollars. Working in tandem with citizen group South Bombay Supreme Nodal Officers Bureau (SoBo SNOB), the BMC is drawing up a plan to limit access for 'outsiders'.
“We have put together a proposal that outlines our plan to rebuild the old fort walls from Dongri to Kala Ghoda. Tourists will be charged $1,000 for a day-long heritage tour through Fort. Every month, a limited number of passes will be issued to tourists. Those who can contribute dollars to the exchequer will be given first priority,” said a senior BMC official on the condition of anonymity. The BMC is also looking at reviving city institutions such as iconic music store Rhythm House, Jehangir Art Gallery's CafĂ© Samovar and even Strand Book Stall that shuttered a month ago.
“For years we've been working to conserve and document all information available about the original South Bombay inhabitants. We've mapping who they were, what they ate and where they came from—obviously not from beyond the sea-link,” laughs Lemur Khan, President, SoBo SNOB. The organisation has been working to “bring back the glory of the old days to South Bombay and revisit a simpler time of chilli cheese toasts and eggs Kejriwal on well-manicured lawns.”
A quick history recap: In 1715, Governor of Bombay Charles Boone helped fortify the island and built walls from Dongri to Mendham's Point—present-day Lion's Gate in Colaba—thus creating a ‘fort'. While those walls came down as the city grew, remnants of the fort remain by way of the gates—Apollo Gate, Lion's Gate, Churchgate. The area now hosts offices of leading banks, designer stores and galleries in the city. According to the official, all private offices will have to vacate the area by June 2018, to allow for the special task force to assess the neighbourhood and build out plans for redevelopment. Renovation of derelict theatres and exhibition spaces in the fort area too are being planned. The first show they will screen? The great 2018 classic, Who's the bigger Fool?
