This famous 124 year old bungalow of Mumbai will be demolished, BMC pasted notice; owner reaches court
On February 29, BMC has issued a notice to the owners of this property named Ratan Kunj to vacate and demolish it. The notice said the structure was in a 'ruinous condition' and was 'likely to collapse'.
An area in Mumbai named 'Saat Bungalow' is very famous, because seven bungalows were built here about 124 years ago, now two are left. A notice to demolish one of them has been pasted. This bungalow, built close to the seashore, has several rooms with huge ceilings, a majestic hall with stained glass work, Italian marble floors, Basalt stone flooring and a well that bears evidence of construction in '1900 AD', which will soon History will be made.
On February 29, BMC has issued a notice to the owners of this property named Ratan Kunj to vacate and demolish it. The notice said the structure was in a 'ruinous condition' and was 'likely to collapse'.
The notice is based on the findings of the BMC's technical advisory committee, but the co-owners of the property, Shalu Rahul Brar and her two sons, see a conspiracy behind it, which is why they have moved the court.
Shalu Brar, co-owner of Ratan Kunj, said, “The notice was pasted on February 29, but the order is dated 2nd. So we were not given the right time to take action. We have reached the court, we have full hope that we will be heard. I have spent my entire life here, so where will I go? I lost my husband one and a half years ago. There were six brothers in total. Everyone has different views, but we do not want to lose this heritage.”
Another co-owner Dhruv Brar said, “In our audit and intake report, it has been said that this property will be preserved, minor repairs have been done, but the notice of direct demolition is a big blow for us. We will fight till our last breath.”
It was once known as “Talati Bungalow”, named after the Parsi family of Sorabji Talati who once owned it. It is one of the last two left of the original, “Saat Bungalow” in Versova.
It is said that “seven bungalows” in Versova were built in 1896 after plague hit the city. Its original owners were the Maharaja of Gwalior, the Maharaja of Kutch, Dadabhai Naoroji, Scholar Rustam Masani, Sorabji Talati, Chinais and Khambatas.
The family says that along with development, it is also important to cherish such heritages. Therefore, structures that were left out in the initial “heritage list” should be included.