BMC begins demolition of illegal Colaba building

Initially a ground-plus-one structure, the cessed building of the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (MHADA) was taken up for repairs in 2014

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began the demolition of a five-storey structure — Shanidev building — at Rajwadkar Street, Colaba, on Monday. Civic officials said the procedure — initiated after two years of complaints by locals — will be carried out over the next eight days.

Civic officials said illegal floors were added to the building on the pretext of carrying out structural repairs. (HT File Photo)

Initially a ground-plus-one structure, the cessed building of the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (MHADA) was taken up for repairs in 2014. Civic officials said illegal floors were added to the building on the pretext of carrying out structural repairs. The building, however, was vacant.

The civic body had initially issued stop work notices to the building owner and later, a notice under section 52 (43) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the owner at the Colaba police station last year. The owner approached the city civil court. As there had been a status quo on this issue till last month, the civic body had not started the demolition procedures, said A ward officials.

“We followed up this matter in the court and showed that the BMC had not permitted the construction of a ground-plus-five structure and it was thus illegal. The court, however, vacated the stay last month and had given us a month. Thus, we began the demolition drive on Monday,” said A ward assistant municipal commissioner, Kiran Dighavkar.