In a stark warning ahead of the 2025 monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified 134 privately-owned buildings across Mumbai as ‘extremely dangerous’ to inhabit, placing them under the C1 category. These structures, deemed to be in critical disrepair, are now subject to immediate evacuation orders.
The list follows BMC’s annual pre-monsoon structural audit, an essential survey to avert potential disasters during the rainy season. This year’s findings have renewed concerns over structural safety in a city where ageing infrastructure often lags behind rapid vertical growth.
The highest number of critically dangerous buildings was reported in the P North ward, which includes areas such as Madh, Malvani, Appa Pada, and Malad—regions marked by dense housing and longstanding neglect. H West ward, encompassing Bandra West and Santa Cruz West, also saw 15 buildings flagged as unsafe.
K East (Andheri East, Jogeshwari East) and N (Vidyavihar, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli) wards reported 11 such buildings each. Even premium areas like K West ward (Versova, Juhu, Seven Bungalows) weren’t spared, with 10 buildings deemed structurally unsound.
Other areas with high-risk buildings include R Central (Borivali), P South (Goregaon, Aarey Colony), and H East (Bandra East, Khar), while heritage-rich neighbourhoods such as Girgaon, Matunga, and Kurla each recorded six dangerously dilapidated structures.
Buildings are categorised into three classes—C1 (requires demolition), C2 (needs major repairs), and C3 (requires only minor repairs). Some flagged structures date back nearly two centuries and remain trapped in redevelopment disputes or legal delays.
The BMC has begun issuing eviction notices to residents. Officials caution that failure to comply will lead to legal enforcement. The drive forms part of Mumbai’s larger pre-monsoon preparedness campaign aimed at preventing building collapse-related tragedies.
Source: News 18
