July 23, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notice under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) for an illegal structure constructed on land reserved for public amenities at Chandivali Farm Road. However, residents allege that the BMC closed their complaint without initiating any visible action against the violation.
According to a report by The Free Press Journal on June 26, the disputed civic structure was constructed without mandatory approvals, including a Fire Department no-objection certificate (NOC), intimation of disapproval (IOD), and commencement certificate (CC). As per BMC’s AutoDCR records, the layout plan for the site is still pending approval.
While MHADA is now attempting to regularise the construction after complaints were raised, the Chandivali Citizens’ Welfare Association (CCWA) has expressed concern that the BMC’s action lacks transparency. In a letter to the L Ward Assistant Commissioner, the association pointed out that their complaint was closed without receiving any documentation or copies of notices issued to MHADA.
Mandeep Singh Makkar, founder of CCWA, said, “This is a blatant violation of BMC and DCPR 2034 regulations by a government agency. They are compromising the safety of the building’s visitors as well as the privacy and safety of the neighboring society. MHADA is subject to the same laws as any private developer and is legally bound to obtain all permissions and adhere to all regulations, but its contractor is working in reverse order by seeking permissions after building the structure, which is a mockery of rules and regulations.”
The illegal construction involves violations such as lack of fire safety clearance, non-compliance with DCPR 2034 open space norms, and use of non-RCC material. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has recently stated that the state government will take strict action against illegal constructions and any officials supporting them.
Source: The Free Press Journal
