The heritage department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified 11 milestones in the city and is working towards restoring the grade one heritage structures. It has already started the restoration work of five out of the 11 milestones and is dedicated to replace the four missing ones with representative structures and also beautify the surrounding area.
Any marking stone found buried will be removed from the pit, cleaned and restored. The civic body will also surround the area with cobblestone pavement to maintain the heritage look and keeping minimum vertical installations around it in order to draw focus on the structure.
Also Read : BMC To Reconstruct 6 British-era Bridges In The City
A total of 15 milestones were installed between 1817 and 1837 in the British-India in Mumbai. These milestones span between St. Thomas Cathedral and Sion. The Cathedral is considered to be the zero point of the city, while Sion was the farthermost point or the city limit. These milestones were three-feet-tall so that passers-by in carriages could spot them.
During a demolition drive in April 2017, the BMC ran into a V milestone, after which began the project to locate the remaining milestones at their respective positions with the help of an old map that marks them. The project is likely to be completed in six months and is being carried out at a cost of ₹20 lakh.
BMC will also set up a zero point marker at St Thomas Cathedral along with a map of milestones as a part of the restoration process.
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