Mumbai: The British-era milestones in Mumbai that have gone into oblivion will get a new lease of life as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to restore and beautify all 15 milestones in the city.
According to civic officials, to preserve the historical value of these stones, the BMC has decided to restore them. Of the total 15 milestones, five have been found missing, while other ten have been almost buried in road widening projects.
“These milestones will be dug out and cleaned by using modern technology. Their surroundings will also be beautified by laying the cobalt stone. In case of missing stones, a replica will be made with the help of basalt stone. The BMC will seek the help of heritage expert in this project,” said Sanjay Sawant, chief engineer, building maintenance.
One of the milestones was found by the BMC while carrying out a drive against illegal structures at Parel in April last year. The stone represents the distance of five miles, as it has the Roman numeral 5 and the word miles clearly written on it. The original inscription reads V miles from St. Thomas’s Church.
Milestones are made up of basalt stones, which are originally three or four feet tall. They mark miles from St Thomas’s Church (today St Thomas’s Cathedral), which in the eighteenth century comprised the city-centre.
Milestones in Mumbai:
- Kalbadevi Road, opposite Navlakhi
- Ibrahim Rahimatulla Road, Nal Bajar
- Dr Mascarenhas Road, Mazgaon
- August Kranti Marg, Gowalia Tank
- Jawji Dadaji Marg, opposite Bhatia Hospital
- Dr Ambedkar Marg, Chinchpokali bridge
- NM Joshi Marg, Chinchpokli bridge
- Dr SS Rao Marg, opposite Sai Traders
- NM Joshi Marg, opposite ESIS Bhavan
- Dr Ambedkar Marg, opposite Chitra Cinema
- SK Bhole Marg, opposite Antonio D’Silva School
- Scheme No 6, Road no 30, opposite Karnataka Bank, Sion East
- Lady Jamshetji Road, Kathuria Marg Junction North
- Veer Nariman Road, PWD building
- Veer Nariman Road, Marker Stone
