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 who assured them that it would be looked into. Last Thursday, locals saw that the clock too had stopped working, but was operational again on Friday evening when TOI visited the site. The time showed correctly and the tower was partially lit. In a letter to the Mumbai University, the Fort heritage conservation association have volunteered to arrange funds to support the continued maintenance of the lighting. In July, they also sought permission for an inspection which they said marks the essential first step in the restoration process, allowing them to assess the current condition of the lights and a suitable maintenance plan. 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 and has been the pride of this city. 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 back then had modelled it on Big Ben in London. Rajan Jayakar, an advocate and solicitor with a keen interest in Mumbai’s history and heritage, said the clock defined Mumbai and deserves adequate attention. “There should be a separate heritage body put in place by the authorities to keep a watch on the maintenance of all heritage structures and if they are functioning well,” he said. When TOI reached out to the Mumbai University for a comment, they said they were aware of the residents concerns and were looking into the matter.
