BMC will appoint art body to restore Flora Fountain

Flora Fountain, the city’s architectural heritage monument, will soon be restored to its old splendour. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to appoint Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for its repairs and restoration at the cost of Rs 2.35 crore.

Flora Fountain is an iconic grade 1 heritage structure located at the junction of D.N. Road at Hutatma Chowk in Fort. The fountain, which belongs to the BMC, has been carved from Portland stone. Built in 1864, the structure is a fusion of water, architecture and sculpture, and depicts the Roman goddess Flora.

The BMC had appointed M/s Vikas Dilawari as a consultant for the beautification and restoration of Flora Fountain. The plan submitted by Dilawari was approved by the BMC in 2011 and Mumbai Heritage Committee also gave its green signal for the project.

According to the civic officials, the restoration of Flora Fountain will be carried out in two phases — phase one includes beautification of surrounding area, tiling, stainless steel sitting arrangement and illumination. The phase two consists of restoration of Flora Fountain along with laying of marble tiles, repairs of fountain and pumping system.

While the phase one works will be carried out later by inviting bids, the BMC had asked Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya and INTACH for phase two works. However, with the former expressing its inability, the civic body has allotted the works to INTACH, which has earlier successfully carried out restoration works of BMC hall and Bhau Daji Lad Museum.

“The BMC had proposed to carry out the restoration of Flora Fountain by May 1, which is Maharashtra Day. However, with the proposal being tabled before the committee, the scenario looks unlikely, “ said a civic official.

According to the proposal, the work on restoring the structure and its surroundings would be completed in a span of six months. The restoration of structure would also require Portland stone. The proposal will be tabled before the civic standing committee for approval on Wednesday.