Mumbai: Mahim Causeway plaque tells a 180-year-old story

The Mahim Causeway quietly turned 180 this year a landmark that rarely gets noticed despite being one of Mumbairsquos earliest and most crucial connectors with Metro trains now running directly beneath it The original commemorative stone plaque at Mahim erected in 1846 along Lady Jamshedji Road LJ Road mdash named after the woman Lady Avabai Lady Jeejeebhoy who funded its construction mdash still stands but needs better protection and careIt is one of the oldest such plaques in the cityOpened on April 8 1845 by then Bombay Governor Sir George Arthur the causeway was inaugurated with a grand procession from Parel to Mahim It was built after 15 people lost their lives while trying to cross the Mahim Creek by boat The creek often called the ldquowhite manrsquos graverdquo for its fevers and frequent accidentsA metal plate installed by the BMC on the original stone PICSASHISH RAJEGeorge Buist in Annals of India for the Year 1848 notes ldquoThe project might never have taken shape but for Lady Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy wife of Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy the cityrsquos first baronet She donated over Rs 166 lakh mdash a staggering sum then mdash to fund the entire work after earlier public subscription efforts had failedrdquoHe further records ldquoWhen it opened the MahimndashBandra Causeway was hailed as a marvel of engineering and philanthropy Nearly a mile long it linked the island city of Bombay with the fishing village of Bandra bridging tidal flats that till then could only be crossed by unsafe ferry boatsrdquo The causeway was designed by Captain Cruickshank of the Engineers and took 20 months to complete It had a 20ndash25ft carriageway raised parapets and a bold central stone arch to withstand tidal surgesThe commemorative stone was erected a year after the opening of the Mahim CausewayOn inauguration day the Governor of Bombay officials and thousands of residents formed a grand procession from Parel to Mahim accompanied by lancers cavalry music and ships firing salutes Flags lined the route and welcomed the Governor at the causeway entranceSir George Arthur praised Lady Jeejeebhoyrsquos ldquonoble generosityrdquo calling the causeway not just a public convenience but a lifesaving link delayed for decades due to costs The Mahim Causeway has remained an arterial link between the island city and the suburbs now forming part of the bustling LJ RoadndashSV Road corridor A sixfoot commemorative stone erected a year after its opening also survives but requires barricades to protect it from banners and vandalismMetal plate installed by BMC on the original stone PICSASHISH RAJECity historian R Venkatesh said ldquoPrior to the 1840s there was no road link between Mumbai and Bandra People relied on ferries During a monsoon storm in 1841 15 to 20 ferries capsized Lady Avabai Jamshedji a devotee of the Mount Mary Church in Bandra financed the construction of a permanent road to make the journey safer She contributed R167 lakh equivalent to about R600 crore today Work began in 1843 and was completed in 1845 She also funded two adjoining roads mdash one to Dadar now named after her and Bandrarsquos Hill Road connecting the causeway to Mount Mary Church The inauguration stone of Lady Jamshedji still exists on Mahimrsquos LJ RoadrdquoHe added ldquoThe bilingual plaque English and Gujarati of the MahimndashBandra Causeway built in 1846 with Lady Jamsetjeersquos donation is a historically significant marker of Mumbairsquos growth and infrastructure It was as vital in its time as todayrsquos Sea Links offering a safe road connection across the creek Said to have been her thanksgiving offering to Mount Mary it also symbolised the integration of Bandra with British Bombay during the late 18th to mid19th century Unless protected it risks damage from construction widening encroachment or natural decayrdquoHistorian Deepak Rao saysOn the creation of the Bandra Municipality in 1876 the then government handed over Hill Road to the Municipality commencing from the end of Mahim causeway and leading up to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount situated on the Bandra Hill But there was a lack of funds to keep the road in good shape Hence Sir Jamsetjee previous spelling Jeejebhoy donated a sum of R100000 for the construction of the causeway to carry out the project connecting Mahim with Bandra free of tollMahim Causeway Key detailsGeography before causewaygtgt Bombay then a small island of about 15 sq miles population around 300000 was separated from Salsette suburbs by flats 1ndash4 miles wide often submerged with mangrovesgtgt Passage between Bombay and Salsette suburbs was only by boats the area was notorious for fevers called the ldquowhite manrsquos graverdquo Early communication attemptsIn 1805 a road was made on the east side linking Bombay with Salsette suburbs starting at Bandra but it was long and indirectThe western route via Mahim remained unconnected requiring boats across the dangerous creekWhy a causewaygtgt Boats were unsafe especially during monsoonsgtgt Frequent loss of lives accidents capsizing drowningInitial effortsFunding was attempted earlier to bridge the ferry but was unsuccessfulGovernment could not commit funds without local contributionsConstructiongtgt Designed by Captain Cruickshank Engineersgtgt Work began in 1843 completed in 20 monthsgtgt Completed and opened April 8 1845gtgt Provided permanent safe land communication between Bombay and Salsette suburbs starting BandraJejeebhoy familyrsquos rolegtgt Lady Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy contributedRs 100000 1 lakh initially Later added Rs 67000 to meet balancegtgt Total cost Rs 167000It was entirely funded from her personal fundsCauseway Length 1 mileCarriageway22 feet wide45 feetfootpath on each sideSea side wall2 feet thickLand side16 inchesChannel depth7ndash18 feetfilled with trap rock up to the highwater markEngineering highlightsgtgt Central arch of 100 ft span 30 ft above highwater mark built with solid masonrygtgt Designed to resist tidal currents and monsoon flowgtgt Safe passage for carts and carriages was established for the first time