NiklasKinard at 06:13, 12 April 2026

2026-04-12T06:13:48Z

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{{short description|Historic building in Mumbai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox Historic building
| name = Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai
| image = Municipal_Corporation_of_Greater_Mumbai_01.jpg
| caption = Mumbai Municipal Corporation Building
| pushpin_map = Mumbai
| coordinates = {{coord|18.9400|72.8353|region:IN-MH|display=inline}}
| location_city = [[Mumbai]]
| location_country = India
| architect = [[Frederick William Stevens]]
| client = [[Bombay Presidency]]
| engineer = Frederick William Stevens
| construction_start_date = 9 December 1884
| completion_date = 1893
| demolished_date =
| cost =
| structural_system = Golden–beige [[basalt]] rock exterior
| architectural_style = [[Venetian Gothic architecture|Venetian Gothic]], [[Indo-Saracenic architecture|Indo-Saracenic]]
| size = 255 ft tower
}}

The '''Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai''', located in [[South Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]] is a Grade IIA heritage building opposite to the [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus]] (Victoria Terminus; a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]) at the junction of [[Dadabhai Naoroji Road]] and Mahapalika Marg. It is also known as the '''BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation Building''', or '''BMC Building''' for short.<ref name="theory.tifr.res.in">{{cite web|url=http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/architecture/building/corporation.html|title=The Municipal Corporation Building|accessdate=27 March 2009}}</ref><ref name =joshi>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiausp.org/files/spatial_planning/Pankaj_joshi.pdf|title=Heritage Conservation in Mumbai|accessdate=27 March 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

As the name suggests, the V-shaped building houses the civic body that governs the city of Mumbai, the [[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation|BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcgm.gov.in/|title= the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai|accessdate=27 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcgm.gov.in/forms/logo.aspx|title=Coat of Arms of the City of Mumbai|accessdate=27 March 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621081915/http://www.mcgm.gov.in/forms/logo.aspx|archivedate=21 June 2009}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Gable of BMC Building.jpg|thumb|upright|Winged allegorical figure representing the 'urbs prima in Indis' and [[Emblem of Mumbai|the coat of arms]] of BMC below]]
The BMC was created in 1865 and [[Arthur Crawford]] was its first [[Municipal Commissioner (India)|Municipal Commissioner]]. The Municipality was initially housed in a modest building at the terminus of Girgaum Road. In 1870, it was shifted to a building on the Esplanade, located between Watson Hotel and the Sassoon Mechanics Institute where the present Army & Navy building is situated. On 9 December 1884, the foundation stone for the new building of the Bombay Municipal Corporation was laid opposite to Victoria Terminus, by the [[Viceroy]] of the time, [[Lord Ripon]].<ref name="phil">{{Cite book |last=Chhabra |first=G.S. |title=Advanced Study in the History of Modern India |volume=II |publisher=Lotus Press Publishes & Distributors |year=2017 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OzZzFm4pLWQC |isbn=978-81-89093-07-5 |edition=3rd |location=Delhi |pages=429 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="joshi" />

Two designs were considered for the building; one of the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] designs done by [[Frederick William Stevens]] and the other in the [[Indo-Saracenic]] design presented by [[Robert Fellowes Chisholm]]. In the end, a blend of [[Venetian Gothic]] and Indo-Saracenic was settled upon. The building was completed in 1893.

==Heritage status and restoration==
The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai has categorised the heritage buildings of Mumbai under the guidelines prepared for the purpose. According to these guidelines, the Municipal Corporation Building, Bombay has been categorised by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation as Grade II A. The list of heritage buildings, as categorised on 24 April 2005, under Grade I, Grade II, Grade IIA, Grade III and Precincts are 591. For the Bombay Municipal Corporation Building, the details are elaborated below.<ref name="joshi" />
<ref name="glory">{{cite web|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/125yearold-bmc-building-set-to-regain-old-glory/258245/ |title=125-year-old BMC building set to regain old glory |accessdate=27 March 2009 |author=Shweta Desai |date=6 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923023658/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/125yearold-bmc-building-set-to-regain-old-glory/258245/ |archivedate=23 September 2012 }}</ref>
<blockquote>
''157. Grade-IIA Bombay Municipal Corporation (MCGM Headquarter) - Value Classification - A(his), I(sce), C(seh) A(arch), B(per), B(des), F''
</blockquote>
Grade-II (A&B) is defined as:<ref name="glory" /> <blockquote>
''Buildings, of regional or local importance, possessing special architectural or aesthetical merit, cultural or historical value, though of a lower scale than in Heritage Grade. They are local landmarks, contributing to the image and identity of the City.''
</blockquote>
As per the defined "Scope for Changes (Grade-IIA)", the restorations permitted are:<ref name="glory" /> <blockquote>
''Internal changes, and adaptive reuse will be generally allowed, but external changes will be subject to scrutiny. Care would be taken to ensure the conservation of all special aspects for which it is included in Heritage Grade-II.''
</blockquote>
The "Abbreviations of Criteria (Classification)" used for listing of buildings and conservation areas are:<ref name="glory" />
<blockquote>
''a) Value for architectural, historical or cultural reasons A ''
- architectural A(arc) 
- historical A(his) 
- cultural A(cul) 
b) The date and / or period and / or design and / or unique use
of the buildings or artefact B 
- period B(per) 
- design B(des) 
- use B(uu) 
c) Relevance to social or economic history C (seh) 
d) Association with well-known persons or events D (bio) 
e) A building or groups of buildings and / or areas, of a distinct architectural design and / or style, historic period or way of life having sociological interest and / or community value E 
- Style 
- Historical 
f) The unique value of a building or architectural features or artefact and / or being part of a chain of architectural development that would be broken if it were lost F 
g) Its value as a part of a group of buildings G (grp) 
h) Representing forms of technological development H (tec) 
i) Vistas of natural / scenic beauty or interest, including
water–front areas, distinctive and / or planned lines of sight, street line, skyline or topographical I (sce)
j) Open spaces sometimes integrally planned with their associated areas having a distinctive way of life and for which are and have the potential to be areas of recreation J'' ''
</blockquote>
In keeping with the above categorisation, the restoration works of the Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai was planned by a panel of three [[Architectural conservation|conservation]] architects, namely, [[Abha Narain Lambah]], Shashi Prabhu and Shimul Zaveri Kadri. The [[Building restoration|restoration]] plan for the 125-year-old MCGM Gothic structure envisages a) restoration of interiors and the exterior – from the roof tiles to the exquisite Minton tiles inside and to [[stained glass]] work and b) strengthening several wooden [[Beam (structure)|beams]].<ref name="glory" />
In the first phase the structure would be restored to its original glory involving replacement of broken tiles, repair of statues, and removal of plants and moss.<ref name="glory" />

The subsequent phases of restoration would involve a) reorganisation of office space within the building to improve the operational efficiency of staff members, b) 'Citizens Facilitation Centre' and party offices in the ground floor and c) Corporation Hall to be modified for a larger seating arrangement by including outer corridors and opening the wooden doors to increase its [[seating capacity]] from 200 to 300.<ref name="glory" />

Estimated to cost Rs 80 crore (US$16 million, at current exchange rate), approved by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee and the civic administration, it is the largest and most comprehensive conservation concept undertaken in the city, without disturbing the routine work of the civic affairs and administration of the MCGM.<ref name="glory" />

The [[Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai]] (MCGM), as the primary agency responsible for urban governance, has also signed an [[Memorandum of understanding|MOU]] with [[NGO]] Council to work closely with NGOs in the fields of education, public health, creation of urban amenities, art and culture and heritage conservation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.karmayog.com/ngocouncil/moumcgm.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220122838/http://www.karmayog.com/ngocouncil/moumcgm.htm |url-status=live |archive-date=20 February 2006 |title=Memorandum of Understanding Between Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) & NGO Council |date=12 December 2005 |accessdate=27 March 2009 }}</ref>

==Architecture and design==
Before construction, two designs were considered for the building; one of the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] designs done by [[Frederick William Stevens]] and the other in the [[Indo-Saracenic]] design presented by Robert Fellowes Chisholm. The Gothic design was finally selected.

The building is known for its {{convert|255|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} tall tower. The chief architectural feature is the central dome that rises to a height of {{convert|71.5|m|ft|abbr=on|1}}.<ref name="theory.tifr.res.in" /> The gable has a huge winged allegorical figure representing the 'urbs prima in Indis', the first city of India as it was to be known then. The richly moulded and panelled Council Chamber has a ceiling of unpolished teak. Records also support that at these environs Phansi Talao or Gallows Tank, where public hangings took place, was located.<ref name="phil" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/maharashtra/mumbai/sights/|title=Mumbaimunicipalcorporationbuilding|accessdate=27 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210185744/http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/maharashtra/mumbai/sights/|archive-date=10 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://india.saarctourism.org/bombay.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040902213114/http://india.saarctourism.org/bombay.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 September 2004|title=Mumbai City travel Guide|accessdate=27 March 2009}}</ref>
In the period from 1100 to 1500 AD, the architecture of churches constructed with ornamental arches, with ribs supported by [[buttress]]es resulted, in the subsequent idea of the framed structural design with grandeur and monumentality during the [[renaissance period]] of 1500–1700 AD, as the distinct style; the Mumbai Municipal Corporation building, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the [[Rajabai tower]] and the [[University of Mumbai]] are some examples of this style. The old style of dome construction was also revived and became popular; 1750 onwards was considered to be the period of [[modern architecture]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=noxgCiO6LbMC&dq=Structural+deatils+of+the++%27%27%27Municipal+Corporation+Building,+Mumbai%27%27%27&pg=PT37|title=Building Drawing with an Integrated approach to Built Environment|author=M.G.Shah|author2=C M Kale|author3=S Y Patki|publisher=Tata Macgraw-hill|year=2002|isbn=9780074638767|accessdate=27 March 2009}}</ref>
The Gothic architecture with controlled composition custom–made to the climatic extremes of the city has [[wikt:cusped|cusped]] window arches and elaborately domed corner towers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mumbainews.wordpress.com/2006/08/26/heritage-buildings/.|title=Heritage Buildings|date=26 August 2006|accessdate=27 March 2009}}</ref>

At the entrance to the MCGM stands a bronze statue of Sir [[Pherozeshah Mehta]], a prominent Indian lawyer.<ref name=colaba>{{cite web|url=http://www.mycolaba.com/landmarks.htm. |title=Landmarks in and around Colaba |accessdate=27 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714142132/http://www.mycolaba.com/landmarks.htm. |archivedate=14 July 2011 }}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:BMC 1.jpg
File:Main Tower of Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai.jpg|The main tower of the building
File:Central dome of the MCGM Building.png|Central Dome of the BMC Building
File:BMC building winged lion.jpg|Winged Lion, Griffin like sculpture or Gargoyle
File:View from BMC towards VT.jpg|[[Pherozeshah Mehta|Sir Pherosha Mehta]] statue watching over the roads, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and traffic.
File:BMC building monkey.jpg|Intricate carving on the arches of the BMC Building depicting a monkey
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation]]
* [[Coat of arms of Mumbai]]
* [[Administrative divisions of Mumbai]]
* [[Mayor of Mumbai]]
* [[Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai]]
* [[Sheriff of Mumbai]]

==References==
{{commons category|Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai}}
{{reflist}}

{{Tourist attractions in Mumbai}}

[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1893]]
[[Category:Municipal buildings in India]]
[[Category:Government buildings in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in India]]
[[Category:Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture]]
[[Category:Venetian Gothic architecture]]

Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai - Revision history

NiklasKinard at 06:13, 12 April 2026