The Maritime Mumbai Museum Society (MMMS) has formally sought land from the Mumbai Port Authority (MPA) to establish a world-class Maritime Museum in Mumbai. The MMMS, a collective of maritime and heritage enthusiasts including naval officers, master mariners, historians, architects, archaeologists, designers, and citizens, has appealed to Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora to urge the MPA to allocate its now-disused 'Traffic House' (also known as Ghadiyal Ghar or Ghadiyal Godi) for housing the museum.
Deora's Appeal to Union Minister
Deora has written to Union Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the MPA, requesting the allotment of the land. He emphasized that Mumbai, despite its extensive maritime history dating back to the Shilahara dynasty in the 8th-13th century, lacks a dedicated maritime museum. The iconic Ghadiyal Ghar building, constructed in 1890, is currently vacant and has not been in use since the docks it served were closed in 2008. Deora proposed converting this building into a maritime museum that would complement the Naval Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal and showcase the local maritime history of the Konkan coast, including the region's intimate history, alongside national-level exhibits at the NMHC.
Community Involvement
Deora further noted that Mumbai has numerous talented societies, registered museum trusts, and competent organizations eager to participate in the maritime museum project. He suggested that these entities could be selected through an open competition to ensure the best outcomes for the museum's development.
Letter to MPA Chairman
In a separate letter to MPA Chairman M. Angamuthu, Deora expressed concern that Mumbai, with its rich and diverse maritime history—from the Kohli community and fishing heritage to the legendary Maratha naval armor under Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, Portuguese shipbuilding legacy represented by Mazgaon Docks Limited, the Mumbai Port Trust, hardworking dock workers, and the strategic western naval command—still lacks a dedicated Naval or Maritime Museum.
Government Response
In a recent reply to Deora, Minister Sonowal stated that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is developing the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat. He also confirmed that the Maharashtra government has consented to the development of its coastal state pavilion at the NMHC, signaling support for maritime heritage initiatives in the region.
