The Heritage Collaborative
30 Years of Heritage Conservation in Mumbai: Success or Setback?
In April 1995, Mumbai took a monumental step toward safeguarding its architectural and cultural heritage through Regulation No.67 within the Heritage Regulation for Greater Bombay 1995. Today, after 30 years, we must ask—has this regulation been successful in protecting our city's historic fabric and heritage?
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At the end of the 30 years, it is imperative to take stock of this journey so far and access the successes, failures, and lessons learned to protect the remains of our heritage.
Facts and Reports
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The enactment of the Heritage Regulation No.67 in 1995 imposed additional necessary restrictions with respect to the height of Buildings in ‘A’ Ward, special regulations for precincts, recycling the use of Development Control Regulation No. 52 and additional regulations for certain Heritage Precincts.
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A significant modification in 1999 to the DCPR removed certain regulations and weakened the protection provided for many heritage structures and precincts. These changes facilitated redevelopment, leading to the gradual erosion of historical urban fabric.
Issues/Implications
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Despite the heritage listings, precincts such as Dadar, Matunga, and Parsi Colony have been drastically reduced, making way for high-rise constructions due to regulations such as 33(7) which were able to circumvent the heritage regulations and listing.
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One of the most pressing concerns is the modification to allow 70-meter high buildings within certain heritage precincts. Such developments pose a direct threat to Mumbai’s globally recognized heritage sites such as CST, Victorian Ensemble. If the skyline is significantly altered and new constructions start competing visually with heritage structures, Mumbai risks losing its UNESCO World Heritage status.
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Additionally, legislative changes have led to the loss of architectural character, fragmentation of heritage zones, displacement of communities, and weakened tourism appeal.
Strategic Framework proposed by UCM
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Establish a comprehensive and centralised repository that meticulously documents, preserves and provides accessible information about Mumbai’s historic sites, buildings, structures and cultural heritage.
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Evaluate the impact of legislative changes on heritage conservation efforts, carefully analyzing the outcomes of such policies to understand their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
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Assess the current and emerging threats to Mumbai’s heritage sites, structures and precincts.
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Document the present condition of heritage sites, buildings, structures and artifacts, ensuring their ongoing preservation and making them accessible to future generations.
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Develop a crowdsourced map of heritage sites to map their exact locations, accessibility, and current status. This map will serve as a dynamic and invaluable tool for tracking the state of conservation and guiding future protection initiatives.
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Leverage social media platforms to raise awareness and generate public interest in Mumbai’s heritage by sharing the historical and cultural significance of these sites.