Nearly six years after approval, the first phase of ambitious Textile Museum at Kalachowkie is nearing completion and is expected to open to the public soon. The second phase, now underway, includes contracts for parking facilities, modern restrooms, and structural repairs. It also involves appointing a historian to document the heritage and architectural value of the mill structures. An underwater survey of the basements using professional divers will assess their condition and historical significance.
A 44,000-sq. metre area inside the India United Mills 2 & 3 compound in Kala Chowki has been designated for a "Recreation Ground-cum-Textile Museum." Of this, work began in 2019 on a 7,000-sq. metre section as part of Phase 1, which is now nearing completion despite several delays. Key features include textile-themed murals, a souvenir shop, an amphitheatre, and the centrepiece a three-dimensional multimedia musical fountain installed atop a redeveloped pond. "The first phase was delayed due to the time taken to source a 3D nozzle for the light and sound show, which was eventually imported from China," said a senior civic official.
Textile Museum At Kalachowkie Nears Completion After Years of Delay | FPJ/ Salman Ansari
Textile Museum At Kalachowkie Nears Completion After Years of Delay | FPJ/ Salman Ansari
Textile Museum At Kalachowkie Nears Completion After Years of Delay | FPJ/ Salman Ansari
Phase 2 will cover the remaining 37,000 sq. metres of the site and includes the development of the main Textile Museum, along with a library, auditorium, art exhibition space, and a public plaza. A structural assessment report was prepared by a consultant, based on which a revised master plan has been finalised. The preparation of tender documents and cost estimates is currently in progress. The total project cost is estimated at Rs. 200 crore, with initial plans targeting completion by 2024. Meanwhile, a Rs. 2.77 crore contract is set to be awarded to M/s. Devang Constructions for constructing dedicated parking, restrooms, and a security cabin.
"The musical fountain will have daily shows lasting 2.5 hours, for which an entry fee will be charged. A designated parking area will accommodate 30 cars and 30 two-wheelers,” he added. First conceptualised in 2009, the project aims to honour Mumbai’s once-thriving textile industry and the historic mills central to its working-class heritage. The proposal to convert Mills No. 2 and 3 into a museum was formalised after the National Textile Corporation transferred the land to the BMC under the Integrated Development Scheme. The project faced setbacks due to the pandemic and shifting civic priorities.
