Mumbai’s historic Mahim Fort, a centuries-old landmark overlooking the Arabian Sea, is set for a major restoration and beautification drive. Cultural Affairs Minister Advocate Ashish Shelar announced that
a detailed plan for the fort’s revival will be finalised at a key meeting at Mantralaya next week.
On Thursday, Shelar visited and inspected the Mahim Fort area along with officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Archaeology Department, Public Works Department, BMC’s heritage consultants, and Mumbai Police. During the visit, Shelar emphasised the need to preserve the city’s historical identity while ensuring that citizens can reconnect with Mumbai’s cultural legacy.
The Mahim Fort, originally built in the 13th century by King Bhimdev, has seen several phases of history. It was attacked by the Sultan of Gujarat in the 14th century and later rebuilt by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The fort stands as a silent witness to Mumbai’s layered past, alongside other coastal forts like Bandra and Worli.
In recent years, the fort had been surrounded by unauthorised constructions, obscuring its structure and access. The BMC has since cleared the encroachments, allowing the fort to “breathe again”, as Shelar described. With the area now freed, the next step will be comprehensive restoration and beautification.
The fort itself occupies about one acre, while the surrounding open land and spaces extend across two more acres, creating a three-acre heritage site. Remnants of both Bhimdev’s era and Portuguese architecture are still visible within the fort premises. The development plan will include preservation, conservation, and public-friendly beautification measures to make the fort accessible while maintaining its historical essence.
Shelar stated that this initiative reflects the government’s larger commitment to protecting Mumbai’s cultural and architectural heritage. “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, our aim is to reconnect citizens with the city’s glorious past,” he said.
BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has assured full support for the project, while the Archaeology Department will lead the conservation efforts in collaboration with heritage consultants. The upcoming Mantralaya meeting will finalise the roadmap for restoring Mahim Fort to its former glory.
