Tata Agiary saved

With the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) deciding to alter its road-widening plan, Hill Road residents have won a major victory, reports Mumbai Mirror of March 6, 2007. In the original BMC plan, the Nusserwanjee Ruttonjee Tata Agiary, built in 1884, would have lost its portico. The compound of St Peter’s Church and other ancient heritage precincts would have also been affected. These structures have been saved with the inquiry committee appointed by the BMC stating that the landmarks need not be razed. With a simple change in the plan, land on the opposite side of the properties marked for demolition should be acquired so that road widening takes place and the cherished structures remain untouched, the report reveals.

Tata Agiary to remain untouched by road widening

After widespread protests by residents, including Parsis and members of the Catholic community, demolition had been put on hold in December 2006. "It is a tremendous achievement for our citizens’ group and this model will be replicated in other parts of the city,” said Shama Kulkarni, chairperson of the Hill Road Citizens’ Group, welcoming the news. "But we have not got any assurance in writing from BMC officials. Once we get that we will celebrate our victory by holding a public rally,” she said, adding that it was probably one of the few times that citizens had managed to get the BMC to accept their point of view.