The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a stop-work notice to a developer over ongoing construction on Walkeshwar Road, following mounting objections from Malabar Hill residents. Concerns have been raised regarding the reduction in the road’s level and width—a matter first highlighted by Mumbai Mirror on December 15, 2024.
On April 26, 2025, BMC’s D Ward served the notice to architect Preeti Kashyap Barai and developer Dilip Chunilal Chandan, citing unauthorised construction on a plot bearing CS 156 in the Malabar Hill division. The notice stated that the commencement certificate was not aligned with the latest approved plans and ordered an immediate halt to all work until further directives from the Building Proposal Department, City-I.
The notice further demanded submission of valid construction permissions within 24 hours, warning that any continued work would lead to demolition and seizure of construction equipment. Police assistance was also requested to ensure compliance. While the architect declined to comment, efforts to reach the developer were unsuccessful.
Local architect and civil engineer Jashwant Mehta, who has long campaigned for restoring Walkeshwar Road to its original 27.5-metre width, emphasised that unless BMC revokes the resolution reducing the road line—under Section 297(1)(b) of the MMC Act—the stop-work order may face legal hurdles. Mehta criticised the corporation’s inaction for 55 years, noting that the road currently narrows to 13–16 metres with inadequate footpaths.
BMC officials confirmed that the stop-work notice remains active, pending a thorough review of the residents’ complaints. “The matter is under investigation. Until then, construction activity on the site must remain suspended,” a senior official stated.
Source: The Times of India
