Overview

• Cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar inspected the site and announced a comprehensive programme to preserve, conserve and beautify the 13th-century fort and its coastal precinct.
• The initiative will be executed jointly by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, its consultants and the Archaeology Department under a BMC-led policy framework.
• BMC’s G North Ward is working with the Union Customs Department, which currently holds possession of the fort, to initiate a formal handover needed before full-scale work proceeds.
• Vikas Dilawari has been tasked with preparing the detailed project report, with a VJTI expert engaged for foundation reinforcement as saline air and moisture have weakened the structure.
• The plan covers about three acres—roughly one acre of fort and two acres of surrounding space—where nearly 200 unauthorised structures were cleared around two years ago to improve access.