Rustomjee Restores Wadia Clock Tower in Mumbai’s Fort
Real Estate

Rustomjee Restores Wadia Clock Tower in Mumbai’s Fort

Rustomjee Group has completed the restoration of the 19th-century Bomanjee Hormarjee Wadia Clock Tower in Mumbai’s Fort area, reviving one of the city’s historic public landmarks through a collaboration with the Kala Ghoda Association.
Built in 1882 as a tribute to philanthropist Bomanjee Hormarjee Wadia, the basalt stone clock tower and fountain stands at the junction of Bazaar Gate Street and Perin Nariman Street. The restored landmark was inaugurated on 9 February 2026 by Boman Rustom Irani, Chairman and Managing Director of Rustomjee Group, and Brinda Miller, Chairperson of the Kala Ghoda Association.
The conservation scope included structural strengthening, repair of architectural elements, surface cleaning, revival of the clock mechanism and the addition of sensitive night-time lighting. Originally designed as both a public fountain and timekeeping structure, the tower historically served residents, travellers and traders, providing clean drinking water during a period of limited piped supply.
Commenting on the restoration, Boman Rustom Irani said the project reflects Rustomjee’s belief that preserving heritage strengthens the bond between a city and its people, while honouring the legacy of civic philanthropy associated with the Wadia family.
Brinda Miller said the initiative demonstrated the importance of collaborative efforts in safeguarding Mumbai’s cultural assets and enhancing the Fort precinct’s urban character.
Vikas Dilawari, conservation architect for the project, noted that the restoration focused on stabilising the structure while reviving original craftsmanship and ensuring the clock’s continued functionality.
The inauguration featured a traditional Parsi diya lighting ceremony, acknowledging the monument’s cultural lineage. Rustomjee said the project reinforces its approach to responsible city-building, where heritage conservation forms an integral part of Mumbai’s evolving urban identity.

What this means for Mumbai
Mumbai is home to hundreds of heritage structures embedded within dense, high-traffic urban zones, many of which face gradual deterioration due to age, pollution, and redevelopment pressure. Projects such as the Wadia Clock Tower restoration underscore the growing role of private stakeholders in conserving legacy civic infrastructure that may not generate direct commercial returns but contributes to urban identity and continuity. As redevelopment accelerates across older business districts and historic precincts, such interventions highlight the need for structured collaboration between developers, conservation professionals, and civic bodies to ensure that heritage assets remain active participants in the city’s evolving urban landscape rather than fading remnants of the past. The restored Wadia Clock Tower now stands as a functioning public landmark within the Fort precinct, reinforcing the role of heritage conservation as part of responsible urban development.

Rustomjee Group has completed the restoration of the 19th-century Bomanjee Hormarjee Wadia Clock Tower in Mumbai’s Fort area, reviving one of the city’s historic public landmarks through a collaboration with the Kala Ghoda Association.Built in 1882 as a tribute to philanthropist Bomanjee Hormarjee Wadia, the basalt stone clock tower and fountain stands at the junction of Bazaar Gate Street and Perin Nariman Street. The restored landmark was inaugurated on 9 February 2026 by Boman Rustom Irani, Chairman and Managing Director of Rustomjee Group, and Brinda Miller, Chairperson of the Kala Ghoda Association.The conservation scope included structural strengthening, repair of architectural elements, surface cleaning, revival of the clock mechanism and the addition of sensitive night-time lighting. Originally designed as both a public fountain and timekeeping structure, the tower historically served residents, travellers and traders, providing clean drinking water during a period of limited piped supply.Commenting on the restoration, Boman Rustom Irani said the project reflects Rustomjee’s belief that preserving heritage strengthens the bond between a city and its people, while honouring the legacy of civic philanthropy associated with the Wadia family.Brinda Miller said the initiative demonstrated the importance of collaborative efforts in safeguarding Mumbai’s cultural assets and enhancing the Fort precinct’s urban character.Vikas Dilawari, conservation architect for the project, noted that the restoration focused on stabilising the structure while reviving original craftsmanship and ensuring the clock’s continued functionality.The inauguration featured a traditional Parsi diya lighting ceremony, acknowledging the monument’s cultural lineage. Rustomjee said the project reinforces its approach to responsible city-building, where heritage conservation forms an integral part of Mumbai’s evolving urban identity. What this means for Mumbai Mumbai is home to hundreds of heritage structures embedded within dense, high-traffic urban zones, many of which face gradual deterioration due to age, pollution, and redevelopment pressure. Projects such as the Wadia Clock Tower restoration underscore the growing role of private stakeholders in conserving legacy civic infrastructure that may not generate direct commercial returns but contributes to urban identity and continuity. As redevelopment accelerates across older business districts and historic precincts, such interventions highlight the need for structured collaboration between developers, conservation professionals, and civic bodies to ensure that heritage assets remain active participants in the city’s evolving urban landscape rather than fading remnants of the past. The restored Wadia Clock Tower now stands as a functioning public landmark within the Fort precinct, reinforcing the role of heritage conservation as part of responsible urban development.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Mineral Auction Rules Amended To Speed Mine Operationalisation

The Ministry of Mines notified the Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2026 on 30 March 2026 to accelerate operationalisation of mines and improve ease of doing business in the mining sector. The amendment follows a prior change to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 effected on 17 October 2025 that introduced intermediary timelines between issuance of a letter of intent (LoI) and execution of the mining lease. The 2025 change provided that one per cent of performance security would be appropriated for each month of delay by the preferred bidder and introduced incentives for early operatio..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Indian Railways Strengthens Telecom And AI Safety Systems

Indian Railways strengthened its telecom and digital infrastructure during 2025-26 with the aim of improving safety, operational efficiency and the passenger experience. The programme promoted modernisation through advanced technologies, robust communication systems and passenger-centric solutions. These measures were presented as part of a drive to build a digitally integrated rail ecosystem. A key development was the enhancement of the Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP MPLS) backbone, commissioned at 1,396 stations to meet bandwidth needs of mission-critical applications. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

NHAI Holds Workshop on Litigation Management and Coordination

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) organised a day-long workshop in New Delhi to strengthen capacity and interdepartmental synergy for faster execution of national highway projects. The event was held under Mission Karmayogi – Sadhana Saptah, an initiative of the Government of India to enhance governance through capacity building and improved processes. The workshop focused on structured and solution oriented deliberations to address implementation constraints. The session was chaired by the NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and brought together senior officials from NHAI, the M..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement