US embassy moves to BKC, visa services shut for 6 days
The United States Consulate will shift out of the palatial Lincoln House at Breach Candy to a swanky new facility at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on November 15.
The United States Consulate will shift out of the palatial Lincoln House at Breach Candy to a swanky new facility at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on November 15.
The American consulate will reopen on November 21 at its BKC facility. American visa services will not be available in Mumbai between November 15 and November 21.
The American Centre at Churchgate including the library is also in the process of shifting to the BKC premises.
“Our new home reflects the overall trend of US-India ties. Our relationship with India is growing and modernising, and our consulate must do the same,” said Peter Haas, the US Consul General in Mumbai.
After spending 53 years in the palace purchased from the erstwhile Maharaja of Wankaner, the consulate is moving to a more spacious address near the Dhirubhai Ambani School in BKC. Along with the upgraded infrastructure, the BKC complex will feature expanded space for consulate operations.
A welcome change will be the additional interview windows for services to visa applicants and US citizens thereby reducing the waiting time for applicants. While the old facility had only 13 such windows, the BKC complex will have 44.
All the United States Government offices in Mumbai, including the Department of State, the Foreign Commercial Service, the US Food and Drug Administration and the Foreign Agricultural Service will be housed in the new compound. The Consul General’s residence will also be at the BKC complex.
In contrast to the heritage structure, the new premises will feature state of the art green technology, including high-efficiency lighting, a grey-water recycling system, and a self contained waste-water treatment facility.
Lincoln House was bought by the US government in 1957 for USD 1.72 million and has dozens of rooms, gardens and staff quarters.
The kitchen of the 10,000 square yard palace was later converted into the visa section.