US Consulate gets bigger and better at BKC

The consulate was not offering visa services from November 15 due to the shifting. The consulate at the Bandra-Kurla Complex consolidates all the US Government offices in Mumbai in one location. Earlier,the American Centre,where the American Library and the offices of the US Foreign Commercial Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service are located,was in Churchgate,while the consulate was in Breach Candy.

The US Consulate had in September put two of its properties — the Lincoln House in Breach Candy and the Washington House on Altamount Road — for sale as a precursor to its plans of moving to its new location. The consulate had purchased the Bandra-Kurla Complex plot nearly eight years ago.

The American Library will reopen at the new location on December 5,while the American Centre programmes will resume from January.

Meanwhile,Chief Secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad said the state government had briefly toyed with the idea of leasing the Lincoln House property at Breach Candy,but had decided against it.

“It’s a heritage building,which means no changes can be made to the structure. Also,as it falls in the CRZ I and II area,FSI cannot be added,” Gaikwad said,following a meeting on Monday. Also,with the consulate shifting out of Lincoln House owing to security issues,it didn’t make any sense for the state government to pursue the idea,he added.