Now,French consulate relocates to ‘spacious’ BKC

Sources state that the new office space has been bought with a view to expand the consulate office,which was not possible at the Nariman Point office due to space constraints.

Further,BKC is more accessible to many of the French expatriates living in areas like Bandra,Juhu and Powai.

The MMRDA-owned building at BKC is leased to the Khorakiwala family,the promoters of pharma major Wockhardt,for 99 years.

A senior Wockhardt executive said that an entire floor was recently sub-leased to the consulate. “The part of the property given to the consulate is on deed-of-assignment where the rights to office space have been sold to them for the remaining lease period. We cannot comment on the details; it is up to the consulate to move in whenever they are ready,” he said.

The French consulate is the third consulate in Mumbai to vacate their expensive South Mumbai office and shift to the more centrally located BKC.

Last year,the American consulate moved out of Lincoln House at Bhulabhai Desai road to a sprawling office complex spread over 18,000 square-metres at BKC. Over a year ago,the British Deputy High Commission shifted from its 17-year-old office at Maker Chambers in Nariman Point to Naman Chambers in BKC.

“There were a number of issues why we shifted. But basically,we were looking for modern and much larger office space which we found in BKC,” said Shireen Mistry,Head,Communications and Public Affairs at the British Deputy High Commission.

MMRDA deputy commissioner AR Wankhede said the agency has granted a no objection certificate to Wockhardt Towers for the deal.

He added that the authority has received several enquiries from consulates like Oman and other Middle Eastern countries keen on buying space in BKC. “Consulates have expressed interest in shifting to BKC as there are two schools in the vicinity,the Dhirubhai Ambani International School and the American School of Bombay,that cater to children of expatriates. Also,they say it is convenient for them to stay in Bandra west and work in BKC,” said Wankhede.