Having travelled across 82 Country’s and entire India with only Lakshadweep remaining suddenly realized i was a political novice in exploring the political landmarks in my own Country and city of Mumbai. During my travel of Oslo in 2017 had visited the ” City Hall ” where the Nobel peace prize is awarded annually also sitting on one of the city councilor’s chair. In Berlin in 2018 co-incidentally while exploring the city happened to attend a political speech discourse at a hotel by Congress Politician Shri Rahul.Gandhi. On the day of my departure to India had also visited the “Reichstag” that is open to tourists and was amazed at its architecture and design as also the fact that common German citizens are allowed to view the proceedings in the Reichstag from a “Viewing Gallery”. Recently on reading in a magazine that the “Bombay Municipal Corporation” was conducting group tours of its iconic building decided to finally at least visit and understand the functioning of one of the wealthiest Municipal Corporations in the World. Did a Online booking with “Khaki Tours Pvt Ltd” that conducted the guided tour costing Rs 350 in partnership with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation(MTDC) and fixed a appointment for the “27 Saturday 1630-1730 hrs” group tour. These short group tours are conducted only on week-ends since 2021 when the door’s of this esteemed Council building was opened to the common public.
The Bombay Municipal Corporation building which is 129 years old in 2022 is a 255 feet tall building that was completed in 1893 and designed by Frederick.William Stevens who also designed the “Victoria Terminus” now called “Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus”. There was a competition to design the “BMC” building befitting Bombay’s status “Urbs Prima of Indes( The Foremost city of India)” and the same was won by architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm. His design of the “Indo-Saracenic Style( Mix of Indian & Islamic Architecture)” was later rejected for the Gothic Style of F.W.Stevens and the rest is architectural history of one of Bombay now Mumbai’s most prominent landmark’s. As a horse racing afficionado this choosing of F.W.Stevens architectural design reminds me of the selection of the name “DERBY ” for England’s most prominent horse race , by the toss of a coin won by Lord Derby. Providence. The large statue of Bombay on the foyer of the “BMC” building is the angel atop the porch holding a ship in her right hand named Urbs Prima in Indis (First City of India).The “BMC” building is a Grade II A heritage building.The Municipal Corporation was formed in 1865 headed by Sir Arthur.Crawford and in its initial years functioned from Girgaon. From Girgaon it was later shifted to “Rhythm House” and later “Army & Navy Building” before finally having its permanent foundation stone laid at its present location in 1885. The Statue of Sir Phirozeshah.Mehta stands tall at the traffic intersection of the entrance to the “Bombay Municipal Corporation Building” as he was instrumental in shaping the corporation while drafting the “BMC Act of 1872”. He is also called the “Father of Bombay Municipality” and “Lion of Bombay”.
We group of tourists assembled at “GATE N0 2” which is the main entrance gate to the “BMC” building. Mr Danesh.Irani was our chief guide aided by his lady assistant’s Aparna and Parmita. Came across a few beautiful well fed tame stray cat’s in the vicinity of the “B.M.C” building entrance and this building estate was also their residence. After passing the security identity check we entered the confines of this edifice that i always admired from the outside never ever having stepped inside the building. 
We were greeted with the bold animal statues of two winged lions with serpent tails on either side of the palatial staircase. A arched gallery held with Corinthian columns forms the heritage extravagant ceiling.
From the entrance we entered the main courtyard of the building having tall palm tree’s. There is a amphitheater in the centre along with a “Duck Fountain ” and well manicured lawns. Once in the midst of this palatial , serene isolated courtyard its difficult to believe you are in the heart of one of the most congested traffic junction locality of Mumbai city. The topmost dome of the building which once served as a water tank is majestically visible from the courtyard. We walked along the periphery of the building facing the courtyard that had the offices of various political parties.
The plaque inside the main entrance wall of the “BMC” building that tells the complete construction and cost history of this towering edifice. Rao Sahib Sitaram. Khanderao was also the architect of the “Taj Mahal Hotel”. F.W.Stevens was the master architect who laid the foundation of the “Bombay Municipal Corporation” building and it was Vyanku.Baloji .Kalewar , the chief supervising architect belonging to the Vanjari community who oversaw the entire completion of the building within its stipulated budget in 1893.
“CORPORATION HALL ” :- Inside the esteemed ” CORPORATION HALL” of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Building.This entire hall is created from wood with majestique chandeliers. Busts and statues of Indian Political leaders and freedom fighters. The former statues /Portraits of British political dignitaries were replaced after Independence of India .The highlight of this room is the figures of citizens on the periphery of the wall ceilings representing the Athra Pagad Jati (Eighteen turbaned communities) that called Bombay their home.
” CORPORATION HALL” :- We ” History tourists” seated inside the ” CORPORATION HALL” while ” Khaki Tour” Guide Mr Danesh .Irani gave us a architectural and historical account of this hallowed hall in which many decisions concerning Bombay now Mumbai’s development was debated and statuettes passed. The BMC issues birth certificates, death certificates, it regulates trading licenses, fire compliances, issues health certificates, manages open spaces including gardens and playgrounds, handles solid waste and more. It is also the local planning authority for the city and looks after the urban development . This means that for common Mumbaikars like us Mumbai tourists seated here , interaction with the city corporation is inevitable, directly or indirectly. Check this video of guide Mr Danesh.Irani explaining us the “Corporation Hall” and its internal architectural decor :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxZLHj1P_Rg
“CORPORATION HALL” :- All the elected corporators ,currently 227. congregate in this hall. 227 elected corporators from across 24 administrative wards of Mumbai are accountable to represent citizens and their local issues in the city council. The head of the BMC is the Municipal Commissioner appointed under Section 54 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888 and is appointed by the state government to head the administrative staff of the municipal corporation, implement the decisions of the corporation, and prepare its annual budget. The Municipal Commissioner is a member of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS). In 2022 Mr Iqbal.Singh.Chahal is the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai.The Mayor is the head of these Councilor’s elected from amongst the corporators. The mayor is usually part of the ruling party and is the head of the council and the first citizen of the city. However, the mayor’s position in Mumbai holds no real executive powers and the position is largely ceremonial, with most powers held by the Municipal Commissioner. Mrs Kishori.Pednekar is the present mayor of Mumbai in 2022. The BMC, also known as Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), is one of the richest municipal corporations in the world and is sitting on fixed deposits of over Rs 80,000 crore having an annual budget of over Rs 30,000 crore in 2022. This is comparable to the budgets of smaller countries around the globe and bigger than even some states in India. Proud to be a Mumbaikar living in the wealthiest city of India. People used to be allowed in to this hall to observe the proceedings of the corporation from the parapet above this main assembly hall that can be seen in this photo.
A long walk up the spiral wooden steps towards the ” Artificial False Gold gilded Dome” that lies below the main dome of the BMC building which can be seen externally when viewed from outside.
A ” Bird’s Eye View” from the top most floor of the BMC building just below the artificial false dome.
View of the ” Gold gilded False Dome” that hides the former “Water Tanks” and the “Main Dome” seen externally from outside.
Inside the ” BMC MUSEUM” situated on the second floor that depicts the history of the city and the Municipal Corporation.
A final group photo shoot on the terrace of the BMC” building with a panoramic view of the majestic “Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(Victoria Terminus)” in the background. The majestic Gargoyle looms over the busy junction cross roads and is a towering presence.
At ” GATE N0 2″ the main entry gate to ” Bombay Municipal Corporation ” building.A few well fed tame stray cat’s live in the vicinity of the building as well as inside the building.
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