The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to take down the portion of 400-year-old St. Anthony’s Church, popularly known as Malvani Church, among the locals. It will be done to make way for a road-widening project of the civic administration.
St. Anthony’s Church serves more than 15,000 parishioners. Assistant municipal commissioner Makarand Dagadkhair said that in total, 22 structures are affected by this project. Out of this, two structures are within the premises of this church.
He further added that structures in the premises of the church that have heritage tag would not be touched. They will take down the compound wall and the portion of the bungalow in which the priest resides. In return, the church will be provided financial compensation.
Also read: Mumbai: In A First, BMC To Appoint Private Agency To Upkeep Heritage Structures
As per Father Angelo Fernandez, the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) has identified the church and the administrative building within its premises as a Grade-2 heritage structure. A few portions of the church were rebuilt in 1872, he said.
Earlier this year, the P/North (P/N) office of the BMC had issued a notice to the church authorities to widen the one-kilometre stretch of the existing Marve Road.
Representatives of the church held a meeting with civic officials earlier this week. The church authorities gave their consent to the officials, but the locals have opposed the project.
Currently, the width of the road is around 40 feet, and the civic body intends to widen it to 60 feet.
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