Navi Mumbai: Walls of 16th-century fort in Belapur collapse due to heavy rainfall

A part of the wall of Belapur fort collapsed on Saturday morning after consistent heavy rainfall in the city. Despite the fort is adjacent to traffic signal, opposite Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s headquarter in Belapur, no one injured. However, the traffic movement was disrupted for sometimes.

The 16th century fort was under renovation and it collapsed following heavy rainfall in the city for the last one week.

According to police from the NRI police station, passerby notice the crumbling wall and alerted motorists. “Motorists coming from the Uran end was alerted and an unfortunate incident was averted,” said an on-duty official from the NRI police station. The police station is hardly 50 meters away from the Belapur fort.

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) started the renovation work in 2019 after getting nod from the Archeological department. The planning had allocated Rs 17 crores for the restoration and developing and adjacent area of the fort. The fort was under renovation.

According to locals from Belapur village, the fort is in Kille Gaothan area in Belapur and it was constructed by the Siddis of Janjira in 1560, during the Maratha empire. The fort was also used during the Portuguese and British eras. However, some part was destroyed during the British era.