July 31, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has extended the deadline for its Expression of Interest (EOI) to develop a textile museum at Kalachowki in Byculla East, following a lacklustre response from eligible applicants. The civic body announced on Wednesday that the EOI deadline has been pushed by 15 days, from the original date of July 28 to August 13.
The proposal, issued by BMC’s heritage conservation cell on July 3, invited reputed public companies, charitable trusts or societies to undertake the restoration of historic mill structures and develop the museum. The selected agency would be responsible not only for the redevelopment work but also for overseeing operations and maintenance for a period of 20 years.
The ambitious project, pegged at an estimated cost of Rs 80–100 cr, is to be entirely funded by the selected entity through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions. However, civic officials revealed that only one application had been received so far, prompting the extension to encourage broader participation.
The museum is set to be developed within the 44,000 sq m premises of India United Mills No. 2 and 3 in Kalachowki. First conceptualised in 2019, the project aims to preserve the city’s textile legacy by restoring mill buildings that date back to 1869 and converting them into a museum, while also creating public recreational spaces to educate citizens about Mumbai’s industrial history.
Work on the first phase of the project, which includes a musical fountain, murals, and an amphitheatre, is nearing completion. With this foundation laid, BMC is now keen to move forward with the core restoration phase of the heritage structures, provided it receives adequate interest from eligible external agencies.
Source: The Indian Express
