Sewri Fort to be lit up at cost of Rs 76Lakh

Mumbai:  Sewri Fort, one of the major historical buildings in the city, will soon be illuminated with decorative lights. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to beautify the fort by lighting it up at the cost of Rs 76 lakh.

“We will use more than 200 LED lamps to illuminate the fort. Several parts of the fort such as domes, walls, staircases and entry gate will be illuminated. The entry gate will have lantern lamps like the old days. We will use the combination of red, green and blue colours, just like the ones the BMC headquarters uses, to decorate the fort,” said a senior official from the BMC mechanical and electrical department.

According to civic officials, Sewri Fort, which is visited by many locals and tourists, is known for its architectural beauty, especially for its dome-like structures. Sewri Fort — built by the British in 1680 — acted as a watchtower atop a quarried hill overlooking the Mumbai harbour. The structure was built primarily for defence. It is bordered by high stone walls, including an inner ring for added protection. It is landlocked on three sides, and sits atop of sheer cliff of about 60 metres (197 feet). The entrance is a stone doorway that leads into a courtyard. To prevent a frontal assault from the main entrance, the inner entrances were placed perpendicular to the main entrances.

“The contract includes a one-year defect liability period, which states that if the lights are stolen or damaged, they will be replaced by the contractor,” said the official.