With the Mumbai Coastal Road Project likely to be operational next year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to restore the century-old Parsi Gate at the Marine Drive promenade, over two years after it was dismantled to make way for the 29-km mega project.
The iconic stone structure, a revered site for the Parsi community, will be reinstalled 75 metres away from its original location opposite the Taraporewala aquarium, Charni Road, officials told The Indian Express.
“While the coastal road work is in progress, we are yet to connect the new promenade to the existing promenade. Once we finish work on the promenades, we will build the steps as well as install the Parsi Gate 75 metres from the location. We are eyeing to complete this work by April,” Mantayya Swami, chief engineer of Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), said.
BMC officials said the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) has already approved the architectural drawing for the Gate’s new location. While the Gate itself is not a classified heritage structure, the Marine Drive promenade is, according to Swami.
“As a part of the project, we will be building the pedestal on which the original Malad stone of the gates will be placed as well as the steps through which people can go down to the waters. We have completed works on the RCC architectural drawing, structural designs,” a senior civic official said.
Reopening the Gate is bound to cheer up the Parsis, who would throng the Gate — styled in ancient Parsi architecture of two five-metre stone pillars — to worship their Water Goddess Ava Yazad, until the structure was demolished in April 2021.
“Since the coastal road project is nearing completion, we hope the BMC will keep its promise and relocate the Gate soon,” said Rayomand Zaiwala, who filed an RTI to know about the site’s restoration plans in October 2023.
“During the (Parsi) month of Ava, which is celebrated between March and April, my grandmother and other Parsis would visit the site daily to offer their prayers,” Zaiwala added.
According to community members, the Parsi Gate was built in 1916 by Bhagoji Keer and Pallonjis of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. Members of the Hindu community would also vist the site to immerse offerings in the sea water during Poornima.
In 2020, when the idea of the Gate’s relocation was first floated, the BMC had approached the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) for approval, but in vain as they were met with fierce opposition from the community.
In a bid to prevent its relocation, BPP members wrote to the civic officials and started an online signature campaign. Architects even drew up an alternative plan to reorient the tunnels for the coastal project to ensure the Gate is unharmed.
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Despite all the back and forth, the Gate was brought down, pillar by pillar, over a few days.
However, conservation architect Rahul Chemburkar of Vaastu Vidhan, the firm appointed as consultants on the MCRP, said utmost care has been taken to ensure that the Gate’s sanctity and identity are maintained at the new location.
“The steps of the gate have been carefully documented. The stones were then stacked in a safe location. As a part of our restoration project, we will be relocating the same stones with the same composition,” said Chemburkar.