Bunker found at Raj Bhavan may have been a secret wartime shelter: Archaeologists

The British-era 13-room bunker, discovered at Raj Bhavan on August 12, may have been used as a secret air-raid wartime emergency shelter, claimed senior archaeologists from the state directorate of archaeology and museums department.

According to the experts, the 150-metre-long subterranean structure, located next to the governor's lawn, could have been a refuge zone for key personalities in the colonial empire to be protected from attacks majorly from the air.

"The arrangement of rooms, their structure, naming and their ventilation system suggests that it was a wartime emergency shelter, constructed post 1818," said assistant curator of the department Mayur Thakare.

Thakare, who has not visited the structure, which is spread over 5,000 square feet, said the bunker was built to harbour important government faces and their families against enemy attacks, possibly during the World Wars.

"Looking at the rooms from the photographs, it seems they were constructed to hold utilities, arms, ammunition and other necessary goods. The position of the governor's residence is on the edge of hillock overlooking the Arabian Sea. Thus, the bunker could have also been used against firing from warships," Thakare added.

The expert also claimed that in order to maintain secrecy of the subterranean base, it is unlikely that the state Public Works Department would stumble upon any records or information about it.

"However, the British were brilliant at maintaining records and information. Thus, we might find some outlined in the World War contingency planning," said the expert, highlighting the possibility of more such bunkers and underground shelters spread across South Mumbai.