The Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum in Khareghat Colony containing Parsi artefacts is to receive a four-crore-rupees (USD 612,028) grant from the Government of India to complete the repairs, renovation and restoration of the ground plus one storey structure owned by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP).
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs approved the proposal and recommended financial assistance for the Museum. The BPP in turn has to commit to contribute Rs 1.10 crores. The total cost for the project is Rs 5.10 crores.
Renovations on the Museum began prior to the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress held in Bombay in December 2013. With the BPP running short of funds, the work was stalled and the Museum was inoperational.
Clockwise from top: artifacts at the Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum
in Khareghat Colony; BPP electoral voting boxes being stored in the building premises;
structure housing Khareghat Colony hall and Museum
According to reports, art historian Dr Pheroza Godrej and BPP chief executive officer Cawas Panthaki met the minister for culture and tourism Dr Mahesh Sharma for the grant. Panthaki was reportedly rewarded a lakh of rupees by the BPP chairman Yazdi Desai but donated the amount to the BPP with the proviso that he and his wife should be made donor members on the electoral roles. A donor member has two votes instead of one in trusteeship elections.