A Milestone... In Transforming Attitudes

The rescent restoration and resurrection of a 200-odd-yearold milestone situated in the heart of Mumbai exemplifies the relevance of a faceted symbol that embodies the tangible heritage of the cityscape, otherwise lost to the throes of time, encroachment, and redevelopment

- Tapan Mittal-Deshpande

Lost, found, lost, found, lost, this time found, and reinstated in its exact location. The said location is ‘V’ miles from the then ‘Zero’ Point of Bombay – St. Thomas Church (pre-dates the designation of the Church to Cathedral).

Hidden amidst layers of corrugations, water containers and large boom speakers, this marker of the city dated 1816–1837 CE was accidentally exposed during a routine demolition drive by the civic authorities. One sunny Friday morning in May 2017, an officer on duty found a one-foottall, British-era milestone bearing the inscription ‘V miles’ on SS Rao Road behind the civic-run KEM Hospital in Parel.

The Milestone is estimated to be more than 200 years old. The Assistant Commissioner, Vishwas Mote, F/South Ward office, took on the challenge to initiate the restoration of a historic artifact of the city under the guidance of various experts from the field. A close association with our team working on urban renewal schemes within the ward since 2013 led us to promptly volunteer not just to set up a motivated squad but also to navigate a complex cluster of varied circumstances. Our community-based initiatives supported by a nongovernmental organisation, the D&J Foundation in the vicinity of the site, created the perfect platform for the beginning of a unique collaborative effort towards the conservation process.