Mumbai: Parsi Gate to be restored 75 metres from original spot

BMC start restoration of the Parsi Gate at Marine Lines. Pics/Ashish Raje

The iconic, century-old Parsi Gate at Marine Drive, which was removed for relocation due to the construction of the Dharmveer Swarajya Rakshak Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Marg, also known as the Coastal Road, is now set to be restored. A new location has been finalised, 75 meters from the original spot. One of the two pillars has already been shifted to the new site, with the restoration work expected to be completed before the monsoon season.

"Work on building steps into the sea is almost complete. We have transported one pillar to the site by separating it into parts. Conservation experts are carefully supervising the work. Each pillar weighs around five to six tons and is constructed by joining five to six stone ridges. Each ridge is being removed separately, brought to the new location, and then reassembled to form the pillar again," a senior BMC official said.

Zoroastrian motifs are carved into the columns of the gate

Restoration work supervised by conservation experts is expected to be completed by July 15. The multi-faith religious site, especially dear to Mumbai's Parsi and Zoroastrian communities, has existed since pre-independence days. It predates Marine Drive, which was constructed on the former Kennedy Sea Face by Pallonji Mistry and philanthropist Bhagoji Keer around 1915-16, according to sources.

The Parsi Gate, which consists of two five-metre-high columns made from Malad stone elaborately carved with Zoroastrian motifs, was built with stone steps between them to provide access to the beach now called Chhota Chowpatty where all Mumbaikars could offer their prayers and offerings to the sea.

While Zoroastrians in Mumbai have been paying their respect to Avan Yazad, Angel of Water, at the Parsi Gate for more than a century, Hindus have been using the safe access to immerse the offerings on Poornima Day and also for immersing ashes from the Chandanwadi crematorium at Marine Lines.

The structure had been identified as a religious place of worship in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of 2016 of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project and the BMC decided to remove and relocate them to the new site about 75 metres away. In April 2021, the Gate structures were removed creating a furore in the Parsi-Zoroastrian community.

The decision led to several signature campaigns and an online petition 'Save the Parsi Gate' on Change.org in 2020 by community member Havovi M Sukhadwala, who received support from more than 7,600 signatures. "By definition of law, the Parsi Gate is a designated Heritage Grade IIA structure and is defined as 'deserving intelligent conservation' and any 'external changes subject to scrutiny'. The definition further states, "care would be taken to ensure the conservation of all special aspects for which it is included in Heritage Regulations for Greater Bombay 1995," Sukhadwala said, raising the point of its careful restoration in the petition.

"The new site has been shortlisted and finalised after discussions with the Parsi community. A traffic signal has also been placed a few metres away from the new site so that it can be accessed from across the road. The Gate had to be moved because the canopy built on the road would have obstructed views of the columns from across the road," he added.

Confirming the development to mid-day, Mumbai Heritage Committee member Rahul Chemburkar said, "The two pillars were well documented before dismantling and now shall be re-erected at the designated site along with the steps leading to the sea. It has been restored to its original state and once the installation is complete, an information plaque will be placed."

"I am thankful to BMC. At least, they started restoration work after four years. In my view, this gate does not only have religious significance with the Parsi community, but belongs to the entire community. My concern was these pillars have heritage values and heritage identity of the city. Hope they will complete this work soon," said Zoru Bathena.

April 2021
The day the gate structure was removed