A site of healing and residence for Leprosy patients, the British-era Acworth Municipal Hospital is set to undergo a facelift in a fresh phase of restoration plan chalked by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Pegged at a cost of Rs. 3.25 crore, the civic authority is eyeing to restore several Grade-II B heritage structures within the Acworth hospital complex including the country’s only Leprosy museum, Vipassana Hall as well as doctor’s bungalow in the coming months.
Tucked in Wadala, the Acworth hospital was established in 1890 — after the military barracks initially housed here were relocated to Colaba —to cater to people suffering from leprosy, who were banished to the outskirts owing to the stigma attached to the ailment in the 1800s.
After 135 years, the complex continues to serve as a hospital as well as an abode for recovery to Leprosy patients.
Its 19 acre-compound comprises several religious structures – categorised as Grade-II B heritage buildings including a temple, mosque, church and a meditation centre, that are cared for by the patients.
The Acworth hospital compound is also replete with other heritage structures housing the country’s only leprosy museum and a bungalow, complete with a garage and staff quarters.
It was in 2022 that the BMC kicked off the first phase of its ambitious revamp plan which primarily entailed restoration of the religious structures.
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Work on the first phase, officials say, was completed by 2023 at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.
“Since the first phase is now complete, we have now proposed the next phase of works. In this second phase, we will take up revamp of all the heritage structures which were left pending in the first phase such as the Vipassana hall as well as electrification works. We have floated a separate tender for the execution of the project and a separate contractor will be appointed to carry out the work,” a civic source told The Indian Express.
According to officials, the second phase will focus on the restoration, landscaping as well as illumination of the Vipassana Hall, temple, church, museum as well as the bungalow.
As per the plans, the hospital’s Vipassana Hall is up for a complete overhaul with the proposal aiming for the restoration of the existing Mangalorean tiled roof and window, repairs of existing doors, brick walls, plasters as well as installation of new flooring.
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The British-era bungalow, which once housed the resident doctor serving at the hospital, is also poised for civil repair works such as excavation of septic tank, stone masonry of the retaining wall, landscaping work as well as repairs of the water supply network in the bungalow compound.
Meanwhile, similar civil works and landscaping works have also been planned around the museum complex.
While refurbishments of the religious structures were executed in the first phase, the second phase will also involve pending restoration works at the temple with plans afloat to extend the temple’s roof tiling as well as lime grouting and brick masonry work at the Garbh Griha dome and slab of the structure.
At the Church, the BMC is eyeing to carry out structural steel work for the bell tower.
For over a century, these religious structures have served as a site of solace to the patients of Acworth, who gather here for prayers and celebrations.
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The restoration of religious structures, in the first phase, had involved the use of lime mortar, brick powder, repairs to the wooden roofs and use of Mangalorean tiles.
The second phase is proposed at a cost of Rs. 3,25,75,006 crore. Once appointed, the contractor is slated to execute the plan within a span of 18 months, excluding the monsoon months.
