Gallery with pre-1930s era information to be developed for citizens

Mumbai: The shipbuilder Mazgaon Dock Limited is planning to develop a heritage gallery for the citizens in few months. The gallery will exhibit the rich heritage of shipbuilding and docks in Mumbai through replicas and information. There is a gallery in existence currently inside the compound of docks, the gallery can only be accessed by visitors.

“We have plans to expand the gallery which will have information more on the pre-1930s era. Photographs and information will be collected and arranged, it should be ready in next few months,” said a  spokesperson from MDL.

Meanwhile, the decision of opening it for the citizens will be finalised after the expansion work is completed. The current gallery comprises information, newspaper clippings, artefacts and brief summary of ship building in Mumbai.

The current gallery houses replica of INS Minden, a 74-gun ship which was launched in Bombay Dockyard in 1810. The ship was the first major one built outside United Kingdom.

MDL was established as a Public Limited Company in 1934; later in 1960 the government of India took over the yard to further its warship development programme. MDL is incorporated as a Public Sector Undertaking since then, under the ministry of Defence.