Archive · 27 Dec 2025
Karfule: Mumbai’s Last Art Deco Petrol Pump
Karfule is a special petrol pump in Mumbai that was built a long time ago in 1938.
It's one of the last places in the city that shows the Art Deco style, which is a type of design from that era.
The pump was started by a man named Gabriel Sequeira, and now his family runs it.
The building has unique features like a big umbrella-like roof and special decorations that make it look like cars from the old days.
The family has kept the pump looking the same for many years and even shows old things from when it first opened.
People who like old buildings and history often visit Karfule to see this piece of Mumbai’s past.
Karfule is Mumbai’s last surviving Art Deco petrol pump, built in 1938.
The pump was founded by Gabriel Sequeira and is now run by his family, Daniel and Kevin.
Designed by architect Gajanan B. Mhatre, it features distinctive Art Deco elements like an octagonal canopy and car-inspired grilles.
The Sequeira family has preserved the pump’s original features and equipment, including hydraulic lifts and a compressor from the 1930s.
Karfule hosts exhibitions and heritage walks to educate visitors about Mumbai’s Art Deco history.
- Who
- The Sequeira family, including Gabriel, Daniel, and Kevin
- What
- Karfule, Mumbai’s last Art Deco petrol pump
- When
- Built in 1938, still operational today
- Where
- Ballard Estate, South Bombay
- Why
- To serve as a petrol pump and preserve Mumbai’s Art Deco heritage
- Location
- Ballard Estate, South Bombay
- Year Built
- 1938
- Architect
- Gajanan B. Mhatre
- Original Company
- Caltex
- Current Company
- HPCL
- Founder
- Gabriel Sequeira
- Current Owners
- Sequeira family (Daniel and Kevin)
- Architectural Style
- Art Deco