Crawford Market: Heritage restoration yes, redevelopment no…..Shweta Desai

The 139-year-old Crawford Market, mired in controversy over its redevelopment for more than two years, is now gearing up for restoration of its heritage structure. With dents in its tin roof, a dysfunctional mechanical clock tower and huge cavities in its slabs, the Grade I heritage building will finally get a restoration and strengthening by a consevation architect. The redevelopment plan, which envisaged multi-storey towers next to the heritage structure which were to be constructed by utilising the special FSI of 4, will effectively lie in cold storage for now. The proposal has been tabled with the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) and is expected to be on the agenda at the October meeting.

In April the panel had refused to consider the restoration plan over the confusion of two architects: re-development by architect G D Sambhare and associates and the heritage restoration plan by Abha Narain Lambah, who was appointed a consultant for the heritage part by the civic body.

Civic officials from the Heritage Department have now said that the confusion over restoration and redevelopment has been sorted out. We are going ahead with the restoration and strengthening of the heritage structure of the market, said an official. We have drafted a new proposal with Lambah as a consultant for the project, asking for restoration, strengthening and beautification of the Crawford Market. There is no reference to the redevelopment part and there should, therefore, be no objection from the committee members, the official pointed out. During the restoration work, shops and stalls inside the market area, too, will be realigned. The arrangement of shops is haphazard at present. Without disturbing the shop area, they will be realigned, the official informed.

The restoration, whose cost has been pegged at Rs 28 crore, will turn the heritage market back to its original glory. Crawford Market is spread over an area of 72,000 sq yard and is famous for its architecture, a blend of Norman and Flemish architectural styles designed by Lockwood Kipling, father of writer Rudyard Kipling. One of the main features of the building is the Clock Tower, which is adorned with beautiful Victorian carvings and two fountains and a pyau which form an integral part of the market. Named after the then Bombays first municipal commissioner, Arthur Crawford, the market is divided into sections for fruits, vegetables and meat, while another section sells livestock and pets.

Civic officials from the Heritage Department said that the market in its existing state is dilapidated at many places and is in dire need of repairs and structural strengthening. Once restored, the building will have its roof which is at many places tin shade restored with a Manglorean-style roof. When contacted, Lambah described the scope of her work as full restoration of Crawford Market. I am awaiting the MHCC clearance, she said

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