RAILWAY-STEAM LOCOMOTIVES

JANAKPUR TO JAINAGAR [NEPAL TO INDIA] RAILWAY-STEAM LOCOMOTIVES

                                             JANAK PUR RAILWAY STATION [NEPAL]

                                                               JANAK PUR STATION

                                                               JAYNAGAR STATION [INDIA]:-

                                                                          Diesel Locomotive :-

steam Locomotive:-

                                               LOCOMOTIVE NAMED 'KRISHNA'

                                                               LOCOMOTIVE NAMED 'SEETA'

                 LOCOMOTIVE NAMED 'PASUPATI'

            LOCOMOTIVE NAMED SEETA-RAM

                              Passenger Car:-

                                                             Janakpur town:-

Flying from Kathmandu to Janakpur is virtually like time travel. As the trusty old Avro discharges its passengers and you pick up your luggage in the tiny, shed-like arrival hall, you look for your transport into town. Sure enough, there it is - no shiny taxis, no sleek airport bus, but a dozen or so creaky cycle rickshaws. So, after half an hour on a flying miracle machine you suddenly find yourself dumped on a greasy seat, being laboriously pedalled over a bumpy country road. Your pilot is now a sweaty, skinny figure, who clearly has to use all his weight to get the vehicle moving. Your ears, still buzzing with the noise of the aeroplane engines, can hardly adjust to the quiet countryside and the squeaking of the pedals. A contrast if ever there was one!

Things move slowly in Janakpur. The town has it all - plenty of temples, scenic bathing tanks, fertile countryside and even Nepal's only railway line - but it still hasn't made it onto the tourist map. This may change soon, however, as efforts are underway to turn Janakpur into a major tourist and pilgrim destination.
Janakpur's focal point is the magnificent Janaki Mandir, a temple devoted to Sita, the divine heroine of the Hindu epic Ramayana.
As you approach the centre of town, you suddenly see the Janaki Mandir's Moghul-style towers rise above the surrounding buildings The temple was built in 1911 by the Rani of Tikamagarh (Central India), at a cost of 900,000 Rupees - in those days a dizzying amount of money. In local parlance, the temple is also called Nau Lakha Mandir or 'Temple of 900,000 Rupees'. In 1657, a golden statue of the Goddess Sita was found at the very spot, and Sita is also said to have lived there - indeed, another name for Sita is JanakiBesides the Janaki Mandir, Janakpur has 120 lesser temples, plus 24 bathing tanks, some of them surrounded by strikingly beautiful countryside
The railway was constructed in the 1930s, mainly to transport goods, but these days, the wagons are teeming with people

BOMBAY 1920-FLORA FOUNTAIN

Island city: Mumbai then and now

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/NnTJvFBsCBtJM85VMYMvuM/Island-city-Mumbai-then-and-now.htmlhttp://www.livemint.com/Leisure/NnTJvFBsCBtJM85VMYMvuM/Island-city-Mumbai-then-and-now.html

ANCIENT MILESTONES IN MUMBAI

2012-02-06, 06:40 PM (This post was last modified: 2012-02-06 06:41 PM by Anusha Bapat.) Post: #1

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ANCIENT MILESTONES IN MUMBAI 1 Mile From St Thomas’s Church” LOCATION: Kalbadevi Road, in front of Navlakhi Date: 1816-37     These basalt stones, originally three or four feet tall, mark miles from St Thomas’s Church (today St Thomas’s Cathedral) which, in the eighteenth century, comprised the city-centre. Most congested city streets, where these stones lie today, were then country paths connecting Bombay to settlements it later incorporated. 3 Miles From St Thomas’s Cathedral. LOCATION: August Kranti Marg,Gowalia Tank DATE: After 1837     It is obvious that this milestone is in better shape than others in South Mumbai. The number of miles not being in Roman numerals, a distinct design and St Thomas’ being called ‘cathedral’ instead of ‘church’ propound its comparative newness. Located almost at the foot of the Central Bank ATM, the guard stationed here directs us to a vegetable vending lady on the same footpath. III Miles From St Thomas’s Church LOCATION: opposite BHATIA HOSPITAL DATE: 1816-37     This milestone is caught at history’s final crossroad. With only the “III” of its inscription showing, it should attain extinction if unheeded for a few more years. IV Miles From St Thomas’s Church LOCATION: Chinchpokli Bridge DATE: 1816-37     Another juna aadmi leads us to the milestone proudly. Rooted today near Blue Bird Bakery, it has managed to stay above ground right till the “St Thomas’s” but lies hidden from pavement walkers by a concrete bench. Source & for more visit: http://rishimajumder.wordpress.com/2009/...ilestones/

MUMBAI’S MILESTONES

August 6, 2009

Rishi Majumder obsessively tracks down Mumbai’s two-century old “milestones”, a journey that has left him with some more wanderlust

Photographer: Sebastian D’Souza

Many years ago, I had a discussion with a director of the Prince of Wales Museum on whether the milestones should be removed… and put into the grounds of the museum. His contention was that, by this, we could ensure their preservation. I endorsed his sentiment but felt that a milestone, which had little aesthetic value, only had real value as a historic marker on a road that had come up over an old route. As events have turned out I wish I had accepted his advice. Sadly, I succeeded in convincing him and so he did not press his idea for relocating them with the authorities.
— Saleem A. Ahmadullah, unanimously applauded by conservationists for locating, researching, documenting and spreading awareness on Mumbai’s old milestones.

These basalt stones, originally three or four feet tall, mark miles from St Thomas’s Church (today St Thomas’s Cathedral) which, in the eighteenth century, comprised the city-centre. Most congested city streets, where these stones lie today, were then country paths connecting Bombay to settlements it later incorporated. Their last record, available at the Mumbai Heritage and Conservation Committee office, was apparently completed around 10 years ago (the names of certain landmarks quoted ceased to exist then). It cites inscription, location, landmark, date and remarks on the condition of each stone. We traced these locations. Only six of 13 stones mentioned, all Grade 1 heritage structures, remain. Some have allegedly been removed, submerged or demolished by none other than road labourers hired by the BMC itself.

INSCRIPTION: “1 Mile From St Thomas’s Church” LOCATION: Kalbadevi Road, in front of Navlakhi Date: 1816-37
We asked 50 people in Kalbadevi about Navlakhi. One of them guided us to a publisher who informed us that Navlakhi, a once renowned publishing set-up, had shut down 15 years ago. But he directed us to its current location. In its place stands ‘Double Dot, The Share Café’, a stockbroker service, which has ‘Navlakhi & Co” inscribed minimally in the corner of its signboard because the BMC licence it uses is still registered under that name. Once painted the same blue as Navlakhi was, the stone is today grey, and has sunk into the pavement. So much so, that only “1″ and half of the “Mile” of it’s inscription is visible. “I have seen this stone go half into the ground,” says Kishan, a paan seller here next to the stone for over 25 years. Shops and buildings on this footpath have gone in as well. In fact the steps once leading to them have gone way under and you now have to step into the old stores, rather than up to them. Kishan knows of the stone’s history from what he could piece together of professors lecturing student groups during field trips, particularly from St Xavier’s nearby: “I can’t understand English but after hearing the lecture over a hundred times it made sense.”

INSCRIPTION: “3 Miles From St Thomas’s Cathedral” LOCATION: August Kranti Marg, in front of Central Bank, Gowalia Tank Branch DATE: After 1837
It is obvious that this milestone is in better shape than others in South Mumbai. The number of miles not being in Roman numerals, a distinct design and St Thomas’ being called ‘cathedral’ instead of ‘church’ propound its comparative newness. Located almost at the foot of the Central Bank ATM, the guard stationed here directs us to a vegetable vending lady on the same footpath. “This stone, like the others, will go with the footpath and road rising,” she forecasts shrugging. She, like Kishan, is categorized as a juna aadmi (a person living there for long) of the area. Every ‘stone search’ has revealed such juna aadmis, some illiterate, who impart a ready account of the area’s heritage, and what it has withstood.

INSCRIPTION: “III Miles From St Thomas’s Church” LOCATION: Javji Dadaji Marg, opposite BHATIA HOSPITAL DATE: 1816-37
This milestone is caught at history’s final crossroad. With only the “III” of its inscription showing, it should attain extinction if unheeded for a few more years. Embedded next to one of the older Kaamat restaurants, the manager of the same comments: “Maine socha, ‘kuch to hai’, par itna puraana hoga, ye nahin socha.” We stand around with him, peering inquisitively at the remnant. A thin crowd from a Ganpati procession stands around, peering inquisitively at us.

INSCRIPTION: “IV Miles From St Thomas’s Church” LOCATION: At the junction of N M Joshi Marg (Deslile Road), Sane Guruji Marg (Arthur Road) and the Chinchpokli Bridge DATE: 1816-37
Another juna aadmi leads us to the milestone proudly. Rooted today near Blue Bird Bakery, it has managed to stay above ground right till the “St Thomas’s” but lies hidden from pavement walkers by a concrete bench. The season’s festive spirit celebrates it unintentionally, framing it in a gateway of advertisement hoarding. Above it hangs a photograph of an aamdar (possibly the same one who erected the bench) proclaiming his “Hardik Swagat” to Ganesh bhakts. The hoarding advertisement reads, “Jet Vitrified Tile. Feel the difference.”
INSCRIPTION: “VI Miles From St Thomas’s Church” LOCATION: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, opposite Chitra Cinema. DATE: 1816-37
Slanting at a 15 degree angle, this could well be redubbed the leaning tower of our heritage, except that our indifference might soon leave it with nothing to lean on. This is sad since it shows the whole of its inscription, which is more likely to be toppled, than sunk. In its backdrop is an Air Tel showroom, whose occupants are as unaware of its existence as thousands of daily passers by, some using the stone as support for a brisk shoe lace tie up.
INSCRIPTION: “VIII Miles From St Thomas’s Church”
LOCATION: Scheme No. 6 Road No. 30, infront of Karnataka Bank, Sion (E) Branch
DATE: 1816-37
The farthest extent of the old city milestones. The Karnataka Bank branch has shifted location now so one has to walk 50 metres ahead to where the old branch was at Brij Bhushan Building. The least affected of all because it is in a quiet lane. We were unable to locate 7 of the 13 milestones listed. The milestone showing two miles at Ibrahim Rahimtullah road “fell in with rubble” during road re-construction by the BMC, as alleged by Abdul Shaikh, an old shopkeeper and eyewitness to the event. B R Bendkhale, who introduces himself as a “senior Shiv Sainik” claims the milestone showing four miles, in front of Voltas House at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, was actually uprooted by BMC workers years ago because “it caused inconvenience to their work”. He also emphasises that not Voltas (which was sent a legal notice by the Heritage Committee for the act) but the BMC is to blame for its removal. The milestone showing six miles at S K Bole Road sank into the ground with the road level being raised (again by the BMC), according to Ram Pandit, a flower seller nearby. If this is true, then disintegrating pieces might still be found underground. One milestone, showing three miles at Mascarenhas Road opposite Union Bank, was supposedly uprooted by a businessman (who has now shifted), because it spoilt the look of his shop. This leaves three milestones (four miles at N M Joshi Marg, opposite ESIS Bhavan, five miles at S S Rao Marg and eight miles near Lady Jamshetji Road’s Junction with Kataria Marg at Mahim). Despite hours of searching and asking juna aadmis, these couldn’t be found. The locals claim there is no way they would have survived. But if you do find them, you know who to call.
(With additional inputs by Santosh Mishra)
THOSE WHO CALLED:

• From: Mahendra M Sharma [mailto:mahendra1710@rediffmail.com]

Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 10:20 AM
To: epaper@timesgroup.com
Subject: MILESTONES

Dear Sir,
Re. Mumbai’s Milestones.
I saw your article in today’s Mumbai Mirror regarding Mumbai’s Milestones. I am sure there will be several responses that you will receive from numerous readers no doubt.
I have been seeing one such Milestone since 1985 when I used to drive from Ghatkopar to Nariman Point daily.  Some times, while returning from Mumbai, I used to cross over at Dadar on the Tilak Bridge and go towards Dadar-TT Circle for my onward journey towards Ghatkopar.
After reaching Portuguese Church. I would take the right lane (Portuguese Church Road) going towards Kabutarkhana in Dadar (West).  After passing by the (South) Gate of Dr. Antonio DaSilva High School on my left side, just a few metres further in front of the small shops & a few metres before reaching the Hanuman-Dattatreya temple in the centre of Saraswatibai Joshi Marg, I used to see one MILESTONE jutting out of the left-side footpath on which the following words were inscripted:
“ VII MILES FROM BOMBAY ”.
I do not have a digital camera nor a camera-cell phone otherwise I would have sent you a photograph of this Milestone.  I had last seen it in March 2007, when it was half immersed into the raised footpath.
I am not very sure if the Mile Stone still exists today.  I stay in Vashi now and do not travel through Dadar area that frequently.
When I saw your article, I looked out for this Milestone among the ones described in your article – it was not there.  It is strange that something so prominently visible has been ignored by the concerned authorities for so long.  I knew that this Milestone was from the British Era and that it held significant archaeological importance and that it should be classified as a “Heritage land mark point”, but was not aware whom I should have contacted.
Hence I felt, I should bring this to your notice.  May be, you can send your reporter with a camera and see if this Milestone still exists today.
I would like to thank you for publishing your article describing the various Milestones.  In fact, there must be many such old structures of historical / archaeological importance that deserve due respect, and we as Mumbaikars should be proud to have such old heritage structures existing in our neighbourhood.
Thank you once again.
Yours faithfully,
Mahendra M. Sharma.
Tel: 2766 6430
Cell: 986 717 5887.

• From: chaitanyamarpakwar@hotmail.com

To: mirrorfeedback@indiatimes.com
Subject: Mumbai’s Milestones
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 13:23:53 +0530

Dear Sir I am a TY BMM student of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai and this letter is with reference to the article ‘MUMBAI’S MILESTONES’ by Rishi Majumder that appeared in the Mumbai Mirror dated Sunday, September 30, 2007.Inspired by the story of Mumbai’s two-century old milestones and their sad plight, this vacation I set out, armed with your article and a road map of Mumbai. To my amazement I was able to locate 8 milestones out of the original 13, two more than what Mumbai Mirror was able to trace. The entire process took about three days on Mumbai’s busy and jam packed streets, but the end result was worth the effort. Of the two more milestones located by me, the first one is on Vincent road, outside Antonio D’Silva High School, Dadar. The inscription here originally read VII miles from St. Thomas’s Church, but very little is visible now and the recent work on the footpath has reduced the milestone to a mere 1 feet. The next one is on Dr. S.S. Rao road, Parel, near Sai Traders. This milestone is in good shape, but construction around it makes it very difficult to spot, that must be the reason why, Mirror was unable to locate it. The original inscription here read, V miles from St. Thomas’s Church and much of it has been preserved. Even my stone search has revealed the Junna aadmis in all the 8 locations, many of them illiterate, who impart a ready account of their areas heritage and what it has withstood.The article in Mumbai Mirror ended with the line ‘But if you do find them, you know who to call’, so I have written to you. I have attached two photographs of each of the two milestones, hoping that they will be of use to you.I also take this occasion to congratulate Rishi Majumder for taking efforts to come out with such a good story and I hope Mirror will continue to come up with such genuine Mumbai centric stories proving time and again that it is the Mirror of the city, reflecting what Mumbai is really about.
Warm regards,
Chaitanya Marpakwar

VII MILES

V MILES

This article first appeared in Mumbai Mirror, Times Of India: http://alturl.com/pue8

Posted in Heritage Property, History | 2 Comments »

MUMBAI’S MILESTONES

Rishi Majumder obsessively tracks down Mumbai's two-century old "milestones", a journey that has left him with some more wanderlust

Rishi Majumder / Santosh Mishra

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Posted On Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 02:35:48 AM

Many years ago, I had a discussion with a director of the Prince of Wales Museum on whether the milestones should be removed… and put into the grounds of the museum. His contention was that, by this, we could ensure their preservation. I endorsed his sentiment but felt that a milestone, which had little aesthetic value, only had real value as a historic marker on a road that had come up over an old route. As events have turned out I wish I had accepted his advice. Sadly, I succeeded in convincing him and so he did not press his idea for relocating them with the authorities. - Saleem A. Ahmadullah, unanimously applauded by conservationists for locating, researching, documenting and spreading awareness on Mumbai's old milestones. These basalt stones, originally three or four feet tall, mark miles from St Thomas's Church (today St Thomas's Cathedral) which, in the eighteenth century, comprised the city-centre. Most congested city streets, where these stones lie today, were then country paths connecting Bombay to settlements it later incorporated. Their last record, available at the Mumbai Heritage and Conservation Committee office, was apparently completed around 10 years ago (the names of certain landmarks quoted ceased to exist then). It cites inscription, location, landmark, date and remarks on the condition of each stone. We traced these locations. Only six of 13 stones mentioned, all Grade 1 heritage structures, remain. Some have allegedly been removed, submerged or demolished by none other than road labourers hired by the BMC itself. Inscription: "1 Mile From St Thomas's Church" Location: Kalbadevi Road, in front of Navlakhi Date: 1816-37  We asked 50 people in Kalbadevi about Navlakhi. One of them guided us to a publisher who informed us that Navlakhi, a once renowned publishing set-up, had shut down 15 years ago. But he directed us to its current location. In its place stands 'Double Dot, The Share Café', a stockbroker service, which has 'Navlakhi & Co" inscribed minimally in the corner of its signboard because the BMC licence it uses is still registered under that name. Once painted the same blue as Navlakhi was, the stone is today grey, and has sunk into the pavement. So much so, that only "1" and half of the "Mile" of it's inscription is visible. "I have seen this stone go half into the ground," says Kishan, a paan seller here next to the stone for over 25 years. Shops and buildings on this footpath have gone in as well. In fact the steps once leading to them have gone way under and you now have to step into the old stores, rather than up to them. Kishan knows of the stone's history from what he could piece together of professors lecturing student groups during field trips, particularly from St Xavier's nearby: "I can't understand English but after hearing the lecture over a hundred times it made sense." Inscription: "3 Miles From St Thomas's Cathedral" Location: August Kranti Marg, in front of Central Bank, Gowalia Tank Branch Date: After 1837    It is obvious that this milestone is in better shape than others in South Mumbai. The number of miles not being in Roman numerals, a distinct design and St Thomas' being called 'cathedral' instead of 'church' propound its comparative newness. Located almost at the foot of the Central Bank ATM, the guard stationed here directs us to a vegetable vending lady on the same footpath. "This stone, like the others, will go with the footpath and road rising," she forecasts shrugging. She, like Kishan, is categorized as a juna aadmi (a person living there for long) of the area. Every 'stone search' has revealed such juna aadmis, some illiterate, who impart a ready account of the area's heritage, and what it has withstood. Inscription: "III Miles From St Thomas's Church" Location: Javji Dadaji Marg, opposite Bhatia Hospital Date: 1816-37  This milestone is caught at history's final crossroad. With only the "III" of its inscription showing, it should attain extinction if unheeded for a few more years. Embedded next to one of the older Kaamat restaurants, the manager of the same comments: "Maine socha, 'kuch to hai', par itna puraana hoga, ye nahin socha." We stand around with him, peering inquisitively at the remnant. A thin crowd from a Ganpati procession stands around, peering inquisitively at us. Inscription: "IV Miles From St Thomas's Church" Location: At the junction of N M Joshi Marg (Deslile Road), Sane Guruji Marg (Arthur Road) and the Chinchpokli Bridge Date: 1816-37   Another juna aadmi leads us to the milestone proudly. Rooted today near Blue Bird Bakery, it has managed to stay above ground right till the "St Thomas's" but lies hidden from pavement walkers by a concrete bench. The season's festive spirit celebrates it unintentionally, framing it in a gateway of advertisement hoarding. Above it hangs a photograph of an aamdar (possibly the same one who erected the bench) proclaiming his "Hardik Swagat" to Ganesh bhakts. The hoarding advertisement reads, "Jet Vitrified Tile. Feel the difference."      Inscription: "VI Miles From St Thomas's Church" Location: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, opposite Chitra Cinema. Date: 1816-37 Slanting at a 15 degree angle, this could well be re-dubbed the leaning tower of our heritage, except that our indifference might soon leave it with nothing to lean on. This is sad since it shows the whole of its inscription, which is more likely to be toppled, than sunk. In its backdrop is an Air Tel showroom, whose occupants are as unaware of its existence as thousands of daily passers by, some using the stone as support for a brisk shoe lace tie up. Inscription: "VIII Miles From St Thomas's Church" Location: Scheme No. 6 Road No. 30, infront of Karnataka Bank, Sion (E) Branch Date: 1816-37   The farthest extent of the old city milestones. The Karnataka Bank branch has shifted location now so one has to walk 50 metres ahead to where the old branch was at Brij Bhushan Building. The least affected of all because it is in a quiet lane.  We were unable to locate 7 of the 13 milestones listed. The milestone showing two miles at Ibrahim Rahimtullah road "fell in with rubble" during road re-construction by the BMC, as alleged by Abdul Shaikh, an old shopkeeper and eyewitness to the event. B R Bendkhale, who introduces himself as a "senior Shiv Sainik" claims the milestone showing four miles, in front of Voltas House at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, was actually uprooted by BMC workers years ago because "it caused inconvenience to their work". He also emphasises that not Voltas (which was sent a legal notice by the Heritage Committee for the act) but the BMC is to blame for its removal. The milestone showing six miles at S K Bole Road sank into the ground with the road level being raised (again by the BMC), according to Ram Pandit, a flower seller nearby. If this is true, then disintegrating pieces might still be found underground. One milestone, showing three miles at Mascarenhas Road opposite Union Bank, was supposedly uprooted by a businessman (who has now shifted), because it spoilt the look of his shop. This leaves three milestones (four miles at N M Joshi Marg, opposite ESIS Bhavan, five miles at S S Rao Marg and eight miles near Lady Jamshetji Road's Junction with Kataria Marg at Mahim). Despite hours of searching and asking juna aadmis, these couldn't be found. The locals claim there is no way they would have survived. But if you do find them, you know who to call. (With additional inputs by Santosh Mishra)

The BMC’s heritage committee has stepped in to save a two century old milestone in the city from being overrun by the Mumbai Monorail project, though why it’s been so poorly ‘preserved’ - hemmed in by rusting fences and camouflaged by the city’s filth - is a question they’re now looking into.
The milestone in question - at NM Joshi Marg, or Delisle Road as it’s still known - is three-ft tall and made of basalt. It is one of the 13 such milestones installed in Mumbai between 1816 and 1837, and marks the distance to St Thomas Cathedral, near Churchgate station, as ‘IV Miles’. Only eight still remain, all in various stages of decay.
The MMRDA, which is the nodal agency for the Mumbai Monorail Project, had sought permission to remove the milestone in October, as it obstructed construction of a pillar being built for the project. However, the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), has refused to grant them a No Objection Certificate, asking them instead to temporarily remove the milestone, and put it back at the same spot once their pillar is built.
“Since this is a Grade I structure, it was not possible to carry on construction with the stone still there. But we couldn’t permit them to remove the stone permanently, and neither could the stone be moved to another spot since its relevance is tied to its location,” an MHCC member said.
The only option, MHCC Chairman V Ranganathan told Mumbai Mirror, was to grant the MMRDA permission to temporarily remove the milestone. “We have asked them to keep it in a safe place and then re-install it once construction of the monorail is complete,” he said. “When its time to place it back, we will ensure it’s installed in its original place.”
MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar assured that all permissions were in place and the milestone would be preserved well, and replaced at the same spot once construction was complete. Incidentally, the 13 milestones weren’t placed on just one route, and there are two eight-mile marks (the farthest), one at Sion and the other at Mahim.
Professor Varsha Shirgaonkar, who heads the history department at SNDT University, said the stones ended at Sion and Mahim as that’s where the city itself ended. “The cathedral was the city centre and stretched through Grant Road, Mazgaon, Parel and ended at Sion, she said. “Many of the stones have vanished. Despite being listed as Grade I heritage structures, they have not been conserved or protected.
The whole set of 13 marker stones is an intrinsic part of the city’s history,” she added, pointing out that the least the BMC could do was install plaques near the milestone to create awareness about the heritage stones. “The heritage water fountains too met with a similar fate. But the milestones are still there and those remaining should be protected.”
The heritage committee said it was unfair to blame them for how the milestones have been maintained, as it was only an advisory body, and the primary responsibility of conserving them remained with the BMC.
BMC officials say they had constructed a cement fence around the milestone a few years ago, but would check on the condition of the others once they received intimation from the heritage committee.

200-year-old Mumbai milestone survives Dadar blast

One of the 200-year-old Bombay city milestones at Dadar had a close shave in the serial bomb blasts that rocked the city on Wednesday.
In fact, one could say that it was the apathy of civic heritage authorities in conservation of the heritage milestone that actually saved it from destruction.
The milestone, located yards away from the ill-fated bus stop that was hit by the bomb blast on SK Bole Road at Dadar kabutarkhana, did not suffer damage in the blast as it remained buried in the footpath.
The effect of the blast ripped off parts of the steel bus stop, damaged parts of the pavement. Late Friday night, the lane of the Dadar bus stop, which was one of the sites of Wednesday's serial blasts, was thrown open to the public, after two days.
The city’s original 16 milestones, that are spread across the city were installed over two hundred years ago and served as the backbone of the seven islands that once Mumbai was. According to civic records, the one at Dadar reads as VII miles and was placed between 1816 and 1837.
“The milestone is a few yards away and it could not have been damaged even if it would have stood taller as the major impact of the blast at Dadar was at a higher level. Nevertheless, the milestone did have a close shave,” a conservation architect said.
The latest list of the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority's Heritage committee lists 16 original milestones, including the one kept in the premise of the Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla.
These milestones were built between 1816-1837 and these basalt stones, originally three or four feet tall, mark the distance in miles from St Thomas’s Church (today St Thomas’s Cathedral at Fort) which, in the eighteenth century, comprised the city-centre. This means they measure the distance of a particular location from the city's centre.
Of the 16 milestones listed, many are missing or have sunken into the ground during various road-widening projects or footpath building projects. BMC's heritage committee chairperson Dinesh Afzalpurkar, however, refused to comment on the issue.

200-year-old Mumbai milestone TO SHOW THE DISTANCE FROM ST THOMAS CHURCH

The city’s original 16 milestones, that are spread across the city were installed over two hundred years ago and served as the backbone of the seven islands that once Mumbai was. According to civic records, the one at Dadar reads as VII miles and was placed between 1816 and 1837.

The latest list of the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority's Heritage committee lists 16 original milestones, including the one kept in the premise of the Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla.

I MILE

3 MILES

4 MILES

These milestones were built between 1816-1837 and these basalt stones, originally three or four feet tall, mark the distance in miles from St Thomas’s Church (today St Thomas’s Cathedral at Fort) which, in the eighteenth century, comprised the city-centre. This means they measure the distance of a particular location from the city's centre.

Of the 16 milestones listed, many are missing or have sunken into the ground during various road-widening projects or footpath building projects. BMC's heritage committee chairperson Dinesh Afzalpurkar, however, refused to comment on the issue.

The BMC’s heritage committee has stepped in to save a two century old milestone in the city from being overrun by the Mumbai Monorail project, though why it’s been so poorly ‘preserved’ - hemmed in by rusting fences and camouflaged by the city’s filth - is a question they’re now looking into.

The milestone in question - at NM Joshi Marg, or Delisle Road as it’s still known - is three-ft tall and made of basalt. It is one of the 13 such milestones installed in Mumbai between 1816 and 1837, and marks the distance to St Thomas Cathedral, near Churchgate station, as ‘IV Miles’. Only eight still remain, all in various stages of decay.

The MMRDA, which is the nodal agency for the Mumbai Monorail Project, had sought permission to remove the milestone in October, as it obstructed construction of a pillar being built for the project. However, the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), has refused to grant them a No Objection Certificate, asking them instead to temporarily remove the milestone, and put it back at the same spot once their pillar is built.

“Since this is a Grade I structure, it was not possible to carry on construction with the stone still there. But we couldn’t permit them to remove the stone permanently, and neither could the stone be moved to another spot since its relevance is tied to its location,” an MHCC member said.

The only option, MHCC Chairman V Ranganathan told Mumbai Mirror, was to grant the MMRDA permission to temporarily remove the milestone. “We have asked them to keep it in a safe place and then re-install it once construction of the monorail is complete,” he said. “When its time to place it back, we will ensure it’s installed in its original place.”

MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar assured that all permissions were in place and the milestone would be preserved well, and replaced at the same spot once construction was complete. Incidentally, the 13 milestones weren’t placed on just one route, and there are two eight-mile marks (the farthest), one at Sion and the other at Mahim.

Professor Varsha Shirgaonkar, who heads the history department at SNDT University, said the stones ended at Sion and Mahim as that’s where the city itself ended. “The cathedral was the city centre and stretched through Grant Road, Mazgaon, Parel and ended at Sion, she said. “Many of the stones have vanished. Despite being listed as Grade I heritage structures, they have not been conserved or protected.

The whole set of 13 marker stones is an intrinsic part of the city’s history,” she added, pointing out that the least the BMC could do was install plaques near the milestone to create awareness about the heritage stones. “The heritage water fountains too met with a similar fate. But the milestones are still there and those remaining should be protected.”

The heritage committee said it was unfair to blame them for how the milestones have been maintained, as it was only an advisory body, and the primary responsibility of conserving them remained with the BMC.

BMC officials say they had constructed a cement fence around the milestone a few years ago, but would check on the condition of the others once they received intimation from the heritage committee.

200-year-old Mumbai milestone survives Dadar blast Published: Monday, Jul 18, 2011, 8:00 IST By Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

One of the 200-year-old Bombay city milestones at Dadar had a close shave in the serial bomb blasts that rocked the city on Wednesday. In fact, one could say that it was the apathy of civic heritage authorities in conservation of the heritage milestone that actually saved it from destruction. The milestone, located yards away from the ill-fated bus stop that was hit by the bomb blast on SK Bole Road at Dadar kabutarkhana, did not suffer damage in the blast as it remained buried in the footpath. The effect of the blast ripped off parts of the steel bus stop, damaged parts of the pavement. Late Friday night, the lane of the Dadar bus stop, which was one of the sites of Wednesday's serial blasts, was thrown open to the public, after two days. The city’s original 16 milestones, that are spread across the city were installed over two hundred years ago and served as the backbone of the seven islands that once Mumbai was. According to civic records, the one at Dadar reads as VII miles and was placed between 1816 and 1837. “The milestone is a few yards away and it could not have been damaged even if it would have stood taller as the major impact of the blast at Dadar was at a higher level. Nevertheless, the milestone did have a close shave,” a conservation architect said. The latest list of the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority's Heritage committee lists 16 original milestones, including the one kept in the premise of the Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla. These milestones were built between 1816-1837 and these basalt stones, originally three or four feet tall, mark the distance in miles from St Thomas’s Church (today St Thomas’s Cathedral at Fort) which, in the eighteenth century, comprised the city-centre. This means they measure the distance of a particular location from the city's centre. Of the 16 milestones listed, many are missing or have sunken into the ground during various road-widening projects or footpath building projects. BMC's heritage committee chairperson Dinesh Afzalpurkar, however, refused to comment on the issue.

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200-year-old Mumbai milestone TO SHOW THE DISTANCE FROM ST THOMAS CHURCH

The city’s original 16 milestones, that are spread across the city were installed over two hundred years ago and served as the backbone of the seven islands that once Mumbai was. According to civic records, the one at Dadar reads as VII miles and was placed between 1816 and 1837.

The latest list of the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority's Heritage committee lists 16 original milestones, including the one kept in the premise of the Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla.

I MILE

3 MILES

4 MILES

These milestones were built between 1816-1837 and these basalt stones, originally three or four feet tall, mark the distance in miles from St Thomas’s Church (today St Thomas’s Cathedral at Fort) which, in the eighteenth century, comprised the city-centre. This means they measure the distance of a particular location from the city's centre.

Of the 16 milestones listed, many are missing or have sunken into the ground during various road-widening projects or footpath building projects. BMC's heritage committee chairperson Dinesh Afzalpurkar, however, refused to comment on the issue.