The state archaeology department, which is undertaking the restoration of the ruins, including an archway, steps and the parapet walls, has completely cemented the walls of the fort.
When asked about the use of cement plaster for the restoration, director of the state archaeology department, R N Hegde, said: “The old stone masonry was in ruins and there were cavities within the walls and the small stones because of their exposure to the salty breeze from the sea. In order to strengthen the walls, we have used cement.”
The lime-mortar plastering, which was used in most of the old structures – both British and Portuguese – in the city was originally used to build the fort.
While heritage conservationists maintain that use of lime plaster is the best option for restoration, the archaeology department finds the solution “impractical.” “It’s not practical to use lime since it’s not available in such large quantities.
While we have used cement for strengthening, the walls will be given a finishing of lime-mortar, so that the old look is restored,” Hegde added.
Being carried out at a cost of around Rs 60 lakh, the restoration work which began late last year will be completed before the monsoon.
Aroop Sarbadhikari, trustee of the Bandra Bandstand Residents Association, said that while the cemented archway looks altogether too new for a Grade I heritage structure, he was satisfied with the work. “The archway has been plastered many times by the Public Works Department. It is very difficult to get the original look of the structure. But since the fort was in ruins, the restoration work will at least save it from vanishing all together,” he said.
Bandra fort is a Grade I listed structure and an important part of the city’s history as after the seven islands of Bombay were ceded to the British in 1661, the fort became an important watchtower between the Portuguese-held Salsette Island on which it stood and the British-held islands to the south.
Heritage conservationist Abha Narain Lambah who has written a book on the city’s Grade I heritage structures said that the archway is an integral part and a unique feature of the fort. “It was built by using rubble stone masonry and lime plaster. The restoration work should match the original material,” she said.
The Archaeological Survey of India (Mumbai circle) superintending archaeologist G S Narsimhan said that the use of cement is avoided while restoring heritage structures. “We follow the method which will maintain the original structure.
We avoid the use of cement for restoration and make use of natural materials like lime plaster, if those are the original materials used in the structure,” he said.
Though the ASI said that it can’t comment on the work being carried by the state archeology department, it said while restoring any structure, and particularly very old ones, the strategy should be to restore it partially. “We do not go for total reconstruction as it robs the structure of its ancient look. The main point is to retain the old character of the structure and that is possible only if it is partially restored,” Narasimhan said.