The naval dockyard building that went up in flames on Thursday was a huge loss to the city’s heritage history.
The naval dockyard building that went up in flames on Thursday was a huge loss to the city’s heritage history.
For, it was a Grade I heritage structure that was built 204 years ago at a cost of Rs1.36 lakh.
Historian and heritage experts Sharada Dwivedi, Rahul Mehrotra, Abha Narain Lambah, in their book — ‘A City’s Legacy: The Indian Navy’s Heritage in Mumbai’ — that was published in 2005, had said the building once housed a heavy machine shop on the ground floor and contained some vintage ones unique for marine applications. They said some were still in use then, including an electric overhead crane installed in 1900.
Fire brigade officers said that the first floor of the building was completely damaged in the fire. “There were several Bhrami wooden sticks in this gutted building.
So, the fire spread immediately, damaging most parts of the building. There was no delay on the part of the fire department to douse the fire. The navy was carrying out the maintenance work, which could have led to a short circuit that triggered the fire,” he told DNA.
Dwivedi hoped that the fire would serve as a wake-up call for the government and the civic body.
“The city has got the finest heritage structures in the country which we need to maintain properly. It is sad and unfortunate that the beautiful and well-maintained building was gutted. The authority can restore the beauty of this navy building. It will cost more, but will be worth the money. If the authorities face a crunch of fund, then they can take the help of corporate firms,” she said.
The naval dockyard building was the main administrative building that housed the offices of the admiral, the superintendent and the general and deputy general managers.
It had workshops on the ground floor and administrative space on the first floor.
The single largest building in the dockyard, it was constructed roughly with plastered and painted rubble, stone masonry and repetitive vertical stone piers with characteristic bands of coursed ashlar stonework.
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