India, June 19 -- The BMC and the Customs department on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake the conservation and restoration of the historic Mahim Fort, paving the way for the revival of one of Mumbai's oldest surviving forts and its eventual development as a public heritage destination.

The MoU was signed at the BMC headquarters in the presence of municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide, additional municipal commissioner Ashwini Joshi, principal commissioner of Customs Ajay Kumar Pandey, heritage conservation architect Vikas Dilawari, and structural engineering experts from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI).

Although the fort remains under the ownership of the Customs department, the agreement auth...