President Pratibha Patil was supposed to inaugurate the museum on January 7, however, the visit was not confirmed. Mayor Shubha Raul said, “We can not keep delaying the inauguration every time.” Earlier, it was decided that the inauguration will take place on December 26 and accordingly invitation cards were also printed, however President's non-availability resulted in cancellation.

Raul said that since she had promised Mumbaiites that the museum will be opened in the new year, she had to stick to it. “We have decided to go ahead with the inauguration. It will be a simple formality after which the museum will be open to public,” she said.

The Congress government was keen that the restored museum be inaugurated either the President of the Prime Minister. But the dates of inauguration kept shifting from October end, Diwali in November and to Christmas eve in December.

Now, finally it will be inaugurated on January 4.

The museum, which was restored by Jamnalal Bajaj Trust and INTACH, has 4,000 objects, maps and manuscripts and the restoration work on the same started in 2003.