Not just governor, Raj Bhavan houses a 5,000-sq-ft British-era bunker too

MUMBAI: Pulling down a temporary wall led to the discovery of a 150-m-long underground British-era bunker inside the Raj Bhavan complex, the office-cum-residence

MUMBAI: Pulling down a temporary wall led to the discovery of a 150-m-long underground British-era bunker inside the Raj Bhavan complex, the office-cum-residence of governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao at Malabar Hill.

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Three months ago, old employees of the Raj Bhavan told the governor there is a tunnel on the premises, after which he allowed them to get it opened.

On August 12, officials of the public works department (PWD) broke open the wall blocking the entrance to the bunker, only to find a barrack with 13 rooms.

The bunker opens with a 20-ft tall gate, ramp, long passages and small to medium rooms on either side, said an official from the Raj Bhavan. The governor is mulling considering consulting experts for its conservation.

The bunker is spread over an area of more than 5,000 sq-ft and has rooms bearing the names — Shell Store, Gun Shell, Cartridge Store, Shell Lift, Pump, Workshop. There are scores of lamp recesses in the gangway for better illumination.

The bunker has a drainage system and inlets for fresh air and light. “We were afraid of snakes, but we didn’t find a single insect in the bunker,” said a senior official, requesting anonymity.

The governor, his wife Vinodha and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the bunker on Tuesday evening.

The Raj Bhavan, formerly known as government house, served as the residence of British governors since 1885, when Lord Reay turned it into a permanent residence.

Prior to 1885, the Malabar Hill residence served as the Summer Residence of the British Governors.