Mumbai's oldest Museum, Dr. Bhau Daji Lad City Museum, is likely to reopen on Republic Day, January 26. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has spent around INR 6 crore on the renovation of the iconic museum in Byculla. The work has mainly been done to address the building’s leakage issues.
The museum has been closed for the last three years. The renovated building will represent Mumbai’s heritage, said BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani.
The first colonial building in Bombay has been built with the specific purpose of housing a museum. It is home to original artefacts including Mumbai’s saga, maps, statues and images.
An official associated with the project told Mid-Day that the building is leaking at several places. This has put the artefacts at risk. “We have carried out the repairs without affecting the beauty of the 167-year-old building. It was a very challenging task as the original structure was not to be disturbed while carrying out the restoration,” the official said.
According to the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad City Museum website, the institution – formerly known as the Victoria and Albert Museum – was first opened to the public in 1857. On November 1, 1975, the museum was named after Dr. Bhau Daji Lad.
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