India, Oct. 10 -- The 13th-century Mahim Fort, representing layers of local history, will be given a facelift, opening up three acres of prime land along Mumbai's western seashore to the public.

Standing amid the ruins of the modest fort - rather, what's left after it lost a battle to a modern-day invasion from encroachers - cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar said on Thursday that a restoration and beautification plan would soon be drawn up.

With the Arabian Sea and Bandra-Worli Sealink as his backdrop, Shelar said the plan would be executed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and state archaeology department, and a meeting would be held at the state secretariat next week.

The Mahim Fort is situated at the mouth of the...