July 4, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appealed to charitable trusts, private investors, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to invest between Rs 80 crore and Rs 100 crore for the completion and long-term maintenance of a textile museum at Kalachowkie in Byculla.
The civic body has specified that the funding is not only required for construction but also for the museum’s upkeep over a 20-year period—without financial involvement from the BMC itself. Initially launched in 2019, the project is located within the premises of the defunct United Mill 2 and 3, which spans 44,000 square metres. Despite this ambitious vision, progress has been slow, with the museum—originally expected to open by 2024—still incomplete.
In Phase I, the BMC began work on a mural, amphitheatre, and souvenir shop in 2022. Plans also included a musical fountain to be installed in a pond on the premises. A senior BMC official stated, “The United Mill compound contains original mill structures that require careful heritage restoration. While some peripheral works have been completed, actual museum development is yet to begin.”
The compound retains its historic features, including former mill workers’ canteens, underground water tunnels, industrial chimneys, and manufacturing areas. The idea of establishing a museum honouring Mumbai’s textile legacy and mill culture was first mooted in 2009 when the National Textile Corporation handed the land to the BMC. In 2017, the BMC consulted JJ School of Arts and initiated pre-bid discussions with contractors, but construction stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed only in 2022.
Amit Saini, Additional Municipal Commissioner overseeing the Heritage Cell, clarified, “This is not due to a lack of funds, but part of a public-private partnership approach. We have already developed 7,000 square metres and now seek external support to complete the project.”
Source: Mid-day
