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Disused World War II-era bunkers in south Mumbai’s Ballard Estate, long buried under debris and associated with neglect, are being revived by the Mumbai Port Trust as part of a new public space featuring a green lung, open areas, and a glass pod.

Construction work underway at the Ballard Estate site being developed into a garden and food court. Pic/Ashish Raje

Located on SS Ramgoolam Marg within the port trust’s jurisdiction, the plot is being redeveloped into a public-facing hub. The land does not fall under municipal administration. The move follows a clean-up of the site, which officials said was previously filled with debris, muck, and waste, and had become a spot for illegal activities.

Bunker to be centrepiece

Construction work underway at the Ballard Estate site. Pic/Ashish Raje

A key person involved with the project said the bunker will remain the focal point of the redevelopment. “That remains the star attraction. We shall not only save it, but also enhance it with historical facts and the importance of the place. You will not believe how the place was. The bunkers were filled with debris, muck and filth. We have cleaned it up at our cost, made it accessible, and it will now be the centre point of the open-air garden food court. We shall also embellish it so that it becomes a place of attraction by making it into a selfie point and an influencer spot,” the person said.

About the bunkers

>> Believed to date back to the 1940s, based on local accounts
>> Associated with troop presence during World War II
>> Built as reinforced concrete structures for defence and command use
>> Similar bunkers exist in Ballard Estate, Antop Hill, and Sion

What will come up

>> Open-air garden food court
>> Landscaped green space with red soil
>> Tree cover providing natural shade
>> Central bunker structure with historical note
>> Glass pod installation
>> Panel wall showcasing Ballard Estate’s history