Mumbai property: Illegal buildings numbers spike, BMC says difficult to curtail

Even after the suspension of Assistant Municipal Commissioner (ward officer) and an engineer from C ward of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for negligence towards construction of a illegal building on Ismail Curtay street, the BMC accepts that it is a difficult task to curtail illegal buildings coming up overnight sans permissions in the area.

The BMC’s B ward, which includes Dongri, Masjid area and the C ward, which includes Pydhonie has the highest number of illegal constructions in the city, a civic ward official accepts.

“Dongri, Masjid, and the Pydhonie areas have many Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) cessed buildings, for which the builders take repair permissions but demolish the entire building and build a high rise instead. The civic body or its permission is taken into no consideration during the construction of new building.

Hence, the BMC has no option but to file an FIR under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act (MRTP) and approach the court. But despite getting a stay, the violators continue to build,” Assistant Municipal Commissioner Uday Shiroorkar said.

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Shiroorkar, currently in-charge charge of both B and C wards, said, “I will soon demolish the 47/59 buildings on the Ismail Curtay street. However, court cases for some buildings in B and C ward are still going on. Although we demolished at least five illegal buildings last year, their modus operandi continues.”

“Unfortunately, the original tenants shift and the flats in the new buildings are then sold at cheaper rates. However, the buyers later realise that they are being fooled after the court gives a stay or BMC demolishes the building,” he added. 

According to the official, the areas where highest illegal buildings have come up are Dongri, Bhat Bazaar, Keshavji Naik Road, Narsi Nath Street, Gogadi Mohalla, Masjid, Memonpada, Nishanpada Cross Lane, Ismail Curtay Road, and Narayan Druvs Street.

By Devashri Bhujbal, DNA India