The road adjacent to Kothari Mansion in Fort, Mint Road, which connects Ballard Estate to CST may soon be opened to traffic.
The owners of the mansion, which was gutted in a fire last month, have written to MHADA claiming responsibility to safeguard the structure.
“[The owners, Nagraj Jain and Sayali Sawant] have given us an undertaking that they take full responsibility of the building and safeguarding will be carried out soon. That is why we will allow the road to be opened up,” said Dilip Garje, executive engineer, MHADA.
Vacant for four years
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also wrote to MHADA on Tuesday to allow the road which has been shut for a month to be opened in the next 24 hours. The Mansion, known for Light of Asia restaurant at its ground floor, is a grade II heritage building.
The six-storey building was dilapidated and had been vacant for the last four years when a major fire broke out on the first floor on June 9. About 16 fire engines and 11 water tankers were pressed into operation. The building’s internal staircase had collapsed early on. The fire led to the building’s east side collapsing and injuring three firemen.
The BMC had filed a police complaint against the building’s landlords for not conducting repairs despite receiving an NOC from MHADA in August last year to undertake partial demolition and repairs, according to MHADA officials. But nothing was done.
Since June 9, there has been little development in the matter and Mint Road had been shut to traffic. MHADA wants the owners to demolish the remnants of the building as well, terming it dangerous. The authority has even appointed a demolition contractor but the owners are disputing it.
