Mumbai: Founded on an amalgamation of technology and amenities in a Victorian structure, constructed and refurbished by state-owned Navratna PSU, NBCC (India) Limited, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) will be a treat for historians, tourists and film buffs from across the world with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to inaugurate the complex today (Jan 19).
Set in an elegant 19th-century heritage bungalow in South Mumbai, the project involved refurbishing the historic Gulshan Mahal and constructing the state-of-the-art NMIC building that has 5 floors and two mezzanine floors accounting for a total built up area of 12,000 sq metres.
NBCC was able to complete the project despite facing challenges like the locality being a congested one, with barely any working space available. Apart from the space constraint, another major obstruction was restricted working hours along with regulated sound decibels. The movement and entry for the heavy vehicles was also restricted during day time.
Considering such factors, adoption of unconventional method of construction was the way ahead, which led to the incorporation of composite construction which offered the combined benefits of concrete and steel. In NMIC, pre-fabricated structural steel and deck sheets are the two components that are combined together for forming a composite structure. An engineering marvel, the NMIC project is NBCC’s first ever steel building structure.
Dr. Anoop Kumar Mittal, CMD, NBCC said, “We are immensely proud to construct and restore an edifice that will narrate the rich history of Indian Cinema. Completing a project that lies at the heart of a congested city, without compromising on the quality of construction, speaks volumes of NBCC’s capabilities and engineering expertise. We are grateful to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for letting us be a partner in showcasing India’s rich cinematic legacy to the public.”
