After remaining closed and unused for nearly four years, the official residence of the Mumbai Mayor at Byculla has been taken up for renovation and restoration, marking a significant administrative step ahead of the city’s forthcoming mayoral appointment. The bungalow, located within the premises of the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo, is being refurbished to ensure it is ready for occupation once civic leadership is formally reinstated.
The prolonged vacancy of the property has been attributed to administrative and electoral constraints. Since 2022, the residence had remained unoccupied following the completion of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s 2017–2022 general body term. The situation was further compounded in December 2025, when the announcement of civic elections led to the enforcement of the model code of conduct. During this period, the initiation of tenders for renovation work was restricted, resulting in continued delays.
With the lifting of these restrictions, restoration activities have now been initiated. Civic officials have indicated that the renovation is being undertaken on priority, with an estimated completion timeline of 60 days. However, it has been clarified that the final financial outlay for the project will only be determined once all works have been completed and assessed.
The scope of renovation has been structured to address both functional requirements and heritage preservation. The bungalow is undergoing extensive cleaning, repainting, and waterproofing to address wear and deterioration caused by prolonged disuse. Alongside these upgrades, special emphasis has been placed on the conservation and restoration of heritage furniture and interiors that form part of the residence’s historical character.
A preliminary tender issued by the civic administration outlines 13 categories of work. These include the repair of the mayor’s wooden chair, restoration of Maharaja-style office furniture, refurbishment of heritage sofas with replacement of fabric and foam, and fixing of damaged wooden sections. Additional works involve replacement or repair of mattresses and quilts, installation of PVC flooring with a wooden finish, laying of traditional Hitkari red carpeting, and polishing of existing furniture to restore its original appearance. The Byculla bungalow was last used during the tenure of former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar, after which it was vacated in March 2022. Prior to this, the mayor’s official residence had been located at Dadar, opposite Shivaji Park. That bungalow was vacated in 2018 and subsequently converted into the memorial of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, making the Byculla property the sole designated mayoral residence.