Page 54 - The Tale of Two Fountains

THE TALE OF TWO FOUNTAINS
We understand that the Maharashtra State Government is planning to commit a high proportion of funds in their budget to refurbish and enhance a number of heritage buildings and structures. Ac- cording to an article in a local newspaper last year, 1.6 million tourists from abroad visited Mumbai in 2018. The State Government was planning to infuse some 320 crores (equivalent to approximately 32 million pounds in the UK) to enhance well-known monuments, street signage and furniture in the city. There will be a partnership approach to deliver the projects with the Municipal Corpora- tion and other State authorities. The importance given to the built heritage of the city and associated tourism will give a big face-lift to the city, with better facilities for tourists. The Fitzgerald fountain will most certainly contribute to this drive.
The City of Mumbai possesses fine buildings representing the Victorian Gothic architecture and Indo-Saracenic architecture, a style of architecture mostly used by British architects in India in the late 19th century. The latter is based on the fusion of the Gothic revivalist elements with Indian ele- ments such as domes, canopies and verandas to suit the local climate. George Wittet and Frederick Stevens are the two prominent architects who stand out for their design excellence. There is also a fine collection of Art Deco buildings in the city, mainly built in the 20th century2. The buildings range from public, commercial, cinema halls to residential use.
In 2018, the Victorian Gothic and the Art Deco buildings in the Fort area of the city were added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites under “The Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai”.
New India Assurance Eros Cinema No. 44, Marine Drive
The Fort area also includes some beautifully sculptured fountains – to name a few, the famous Flora Fountain constructed in 1864 and the Wellington fountain built in 1865. Both these landmarks have been carefully restored in recent years and have won the UNESCO Heritage Awards and are part of the World Heritage site.
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