Building near Birla House may get final OK

“We have asked the architect to provide us the calculations on the use of FSI for the new building. Once that is done we will have no problems in approving the proposal,” D K Afzalpurkar,chairman of the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee said.

Committee members were earlier against a new structure at the site saying it would mar the grandeur of the existing bungalow.

Following a visit to the site and a presentation on the architecture and design of the new building,an approval is soon expected. “Although the new structure will be an addition,the main condition is that the original essence of the historical building should be retained and the new building should be in harmony with the heritage design,” Afzalpurkar added.

Many leaders of the freedom struggle,including Mahatma Gandhi,had stayed in the bungalow on their visits to the city. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had breathed his last in this bungalow in 1950.

The bungalow is a Grade 3 heritage structure and last year,the committee had rejected a proposal to demolish it to make way for a 44-storey high rise.