Mumbai: A landmark of Mumbai, the 280 feet Rajabai Clock Tower located within the Mumbai University Campus at Fort and an integral part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site has been going into darkness repeatedly over the past four months. Initially, in May this year, local residents first noticed that many lights were not working, and the clock tower was lit up in a patchy manner. On June 26, residents wrote to the university authorities that the clock tower was entirely unlit and in total darkness through mid June and also raised the issue with the electrical engineer of the university. Last Thursday, locals saw that the clock too had stopped working, but was operational again on Friday evening when TOI visited the site. In a letter to the Mumbai University, the Fort heritage conservation association have volunteered to arrange funds to recommend a suitable maintenance plan for the lighting. In July, they also sought permission for an inspection which they said marks the essential first step in the restoration process. Ashad Mehta, trustee of the oval trust, said he can see the clock tower from his home and has also noticed the lights go on and off. “The clock tower looks magnificent when fully lit. The clock too had stopped working two days ago,” said Mehta. The clock Tower, designed by English architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, was built in 1878, and is a part of the Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai, which was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in the year 2018. The architect had modelled it on Big Ben in London. “There should be a separate heritage body to keep a watch on the maintenance of all heritage structures,” said Rajan Jayakar, an advocate and solicitor. When TOI reached out to the MU for a comment, they said they were aware of the concerns and were looking into the matter.
