The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is considering the shifting of shops near the Gateway of India so that the visibility of the iconic landmark is improved. This plan is said to be in its initial stages right now, although civic officials have said that the goal is to make sure the security arrangements of the area are met while also allowing tourists and other visitors to view the Gateway of India clearly.
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As per sources quoted by mid-day, some of the shops are likely to be shifted to a different region within the premises. It is further said that the BMC will remove the barricades at the entrance and include something that would enhance the beauty of the structure. “We want to draw a plan that will help people get a clear view of the structure even from a distance,” a civic official was quoted as saying.
A heritage conservationist has reportedly been appointed to draft a plan for these changes. The Gateway of India is managed jointly by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), Maritime Board, the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) as well as the Maharashtra Archaeological Department among other agencies. Officials said that any decision on this matter will go through the approval of all stakeholders.
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“It is not just us but even other agencies are involved and the plan has to be approved by them as well. The plan will include shifting the shops to a different spot inside the premises and making the monument visible from a distance and tourist-friendly too. The barricading that has become an eyesore for many will also make way for something less-cluttered,” an anonymous civic official said while speaking to mid-day.
The conservationist had previously proposed the construction of a new basement level to shift the shops there. However, the BMC reportedly rejected this idea citing security concerns as well as the chances of flooding during monsoons.
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