2.63 crore for restoration of Fitzgerald fountain

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will spend Rs 2.63 crore on the restoration of Fitzgerald fountain near the Metro cinema junction. The project once completed is likely to be a major heritage tourist attraction in the city.

The 35-feet high fountain bears the engraving, ‘In honour of the right honourable Sir Seymour Fitzgerald K.C.S.I-The Governor of Bombay-by the Esplanade committee.’ Fitzgerald governed Bombay from 1867 to 1872.

According to civic officials, the contract has been allotted to M/s Skyway Infraprojects, which are also carrying out phase-II of the redevelopment of Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan in Byculla.

The civic body has decided to re-install the fountain at the triangular island opposite Vasudev Balwant Phadke statue on Mahapalika Marg at metro junction. Earlier it was located at the junction flanked by Metro cinema and Kyani Bakery.

The Fitzgerald fountain and its lamp post, were one of the several relics of the British colonial era, which were removed as a part of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement in the 1960s.

The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee already cleared the project last year. Few months back, the BMC also received permission from the traffic police, who issued a no-objection certificate (NoC).

Architect Pankaj Joshi, project consultant, said, “The fountain was made in the foundries during the time of industrial revolution. It was brought in pieces and assembled here. We will have to again disassemble, restore and reinstate it, which is a huge task,” he added.