NAVI MUMBAI: Illegal constructions continue to plague Navi Mumbai, particularly in northern areas such as Airoli and Ghansoli, despite numerous court orders. Activists claim that unauthorized buildings have proliferated rapidly in the last four years and during the immediate post-pandemic period.
Recently, the Bombay High Court ordered the demolition of Om Sai Apartments in Ghansoli within eight weeks, holding Cidco and NMMC responsible. In Nerul, the Supreme Court directed NMMC to submit a compliance report after getting the flats vacated at Trimurti Park and Krishna Complex for further action.
“I have filed contempt petitions more than once making MIDC, Cidco and NMMC respondents for their delaying tactics in initiating action against illegal buildings,” said civic activist Rajeev Mishra.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, MIDC admitted to 300 illegal buildings on its land, while Cidco reported 2,000 such structures on its properties. The NMMC cited 1,495 illegal buildings.
NMMC claimed to have demolished 900 out of the 1,495 illegal buildings that emerged between 2019 and 2024. However, activists refuted this, stating that over 500 buildings have been reconstructed despite civic action. “Over 500 buildings on which action was taken by NMMC through partial demolition have now received a facelift. The officials at the ward level should be held responsible for the administrative lacuna which encouraged unscrupulous developers to rebuild the structures. I have prayed to the court to initiate action against such corrupt officials who are hand in glove with the land mafia,” added Mishra.
According to activists, over 8,000 illegal structures have surfaced in the NMMC area, and 7,000 more in Cidco areas, including Panvel corporation limits and Uran council area. Additionally, work is underway on 60 multi-story illegal buildings in the NMMC area alone. Authorities have expressed helplessness in initiating action due to the model code of conduct in force until the end of the Lok Sabha polls. Furthermore, FSI violations seem rampant throughout the city, with over 10,000 notices issued by NMMC for extending existing construction areas.
Both NMMC and Cidco have been demolishing scores of illegal buildings at the directions of the Bombay High Court in recent days. However, activist Anarjit Chauhan described the action as an “eyewash,” stating that local-level officers must be held accountable for failing to curb illegal constructions. He added that a former NMMC commissioner had ordered action against ward officers and area engineers, but no corrupt officers have been punished yet.
The frenzied construction activity between Vashi and Thane, especially after Central Railway connected the two hubs over a decade ago, has been fuelled by the establishment of several top Indian and multinational companies in the ‘knowledge sector.’ Unscrupulous builders, in league with local politicians, have been quick to cater to the housing needs of employees by putting up illegal buildings. Unfortunately, many employees have also bought apartments in these illegal buildings and face the risk of losing their hard-earned savings and becoming homeless when court-ordered demolitions take place.
NMMC presented its case in court, stating that it has a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal construction and is using digital technology with drones and radar to map almost 80% of all constructions within its command areas. “Once mapping is over, it will accurately monitor all development,” said NMMC
