The Maharashtra Archaeology Department will hold an inspection into the preservation and conservation work of the heritage Bandra Fort, also known as Castella de Aguada, after environmentalists raised concerns regarding the repair work and alleged concretisation of the structure.
Back in October 2024, the 17th-century fort wrapped up a two-year repair upgrade that local residents and environmentalists lamented was in direct violation of the law that prohibits removing, altering and defacing any protected monument. Bandra Fort is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Built by the Portuguese in 1640 as a watchtower overlooking Mahim Bay, the Arabian Sea and the southern island of Mahim, citizens complained about extensive concretisation inside the fort garden after it was opened up for visitors in October.
While the citizens had written to the BMC Commissioner to complain about concretisation in garden, they also wrote to the archaeology department, which is carrying out the conservation work at Bandra Fort. The concerns raised included the removal of a heritage arch at the entrance of the fort, re-plastering of the entire fort and the use of multi-coloured cement filling inside the stone rocks. The letter also highlighted that the conservation work was rectifying the fort by increasing the height of the parapet wall of the deck area, changing the heights and design of the walls, and digging up the fort to lay wires and lighting poles.
Ratnagiri Division’s assistant director of archaeology, Dr Vilas Vahane, responded by saying that the archaeology department was replacing the RRC beam of the heritage arch with the original stone beam, while the re-plastering is being carried out by lime plaster by replacing the earlier cement plaster. The official also claimed that the department is not using cement in the conservation work.
However, the archaeology official expressed his wish to meet citizens and explain the site management plan while the conservation work is in progress. While the citizens demanded a joint inspection from the archaeology department and the BMC’s heritage department, the assistant archaology director in an email written to the citizens on Tuesday, said, “The date and time for inspecting the preservation and conservation work of the Bandra Fort monument will be informed by the office.”
The fort is currently open from 6AM-6:30PM for photography, sunset viewings, picnics and leisurely walks.
The history of Bandra Fort dates back to the Portuguese, who had established a base in the area in 1534 after defeating Bahadur Shah of Gujarat and built several sea forts along the western Indian coastline. Castella de Aguada was one such strategically located fort, overlooking Mahim Bay to the south, the Arabian Sea to the west, the islands of Worli to the south and the town of Mahim to the southwest. The fort also guarded the northern sea route into Mumbai Harbour. During Portuguese rule, it was armed with seven cannons and other smaller guns as defence. A freshwater spring in the vicinity supplied potable water to passing ships, thus lending the fort its name.
(With inputs from multiple news sources)
