BMC brings down illegal high-rise shanties in Bandra

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), on Wednesday, demolished 25 illegal structures from the area next to Bandra Skywalk in Behrampada, Bandra East.

Seven illegal stalls near the Bandra (E) railway station window, along with second/third floors of twelve other illegal structures, were also demolished. The drive was carried out on the direction of local ward officer Prashant Gaikwad, H-east ward.

An official from the civic body said that the drive was necessary since the structures were a fire-hazard. Moreover, the top floors of some shanties were being used for commercial purposes.

While the demolition was underway, a mob of around 250 people gathered and objected to the drive, citing that the civic body should not be razing structures at the time of monsoon. Since the mob was relentless, officials stopped the drive.

An official from the BMC said, “We tried to talk to them, but they were not willing to listen. So we stopped the drive for the time being. We might continue it next week, however it is not decided. There are a lot more illegal structures that need to be taken down.”

After a section of the media reported about the illegal structures in June, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had ordered a survey of the area. During the survey, officials identified over 350 five-storey shanties and 500 two/three-storey ones in the area.

The owners of the respective shanties were served noticed on June 21. However, due to a large Muslim population, the structures were not razed during the holy month of Ramazan.