The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has stepped up its action against unauthorised constructions and encroachments on its plots across Navi Mumbai. The civic planning authority has carried out a series of demolition drives in areas including Dronagiri, Kamothe, Targhar, the Ulwe access bridge corridor and locations near the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
During the recent drives, nearly 50 illegal structures, including concrete constructions, garages, roadside stalls, shops and eateries, were removed. CIDCO officials also cleared unauthorised parking areas and removed heavy vehicles occupying government-owned plots.
The action was carried out by CIDCO’s Unauthorised Construction Control Department under the supervision of Vigilance Department officials Suresh Mengade and Vishal Dhage. According to CIDCO, the department has so far reclaimed encroached land worth approximately Rs 11,000 crore.
On August 5, CIDCO officials conducted a demolition drive at Plot No. 59 in Sector 1, Dronagiri. A 70-square-metre brick structure, a garage built using sheet material, and an unauthorised truck parking area were removed from the site. The same day, action was also taken against illegal constructions on 40 to 50 unpaved roads and footpaths in Sectors 47 and 50 using heavy machinery.
A separate operation was conducted in Kamothe, where illegally parked heavy vehicles were removed from Plot No. 16 in Sector 24. A garage and tyre shop operating from the plot were demolished. In Sector 22, six unauthorised stalls located on Plot Nos. 39 and 39A were cleared. CIDCO also removed an illegal dhaba spread across nearly 500 square metres in Sector 31.
Earlier, on August 1 and 2, CIDCO conducted an anti-encroachment campaign near the Targhar-Ulwe access bridge and Amra Marg near Targhar railway station. The authority stated that these structures had come up along the service road and near the Navi Mumbai International Airport area without official approval and in violation of existing regulations.
CIDCO said the ongoing drive is being undertaken across Navi Mumbai, Panvel and Uran under the leadership of Suresh Mengade and guidance of Vishal Dhage. The operation involved CIDCO officials, local police, CIDCO security teams, Maharashtra Security Force personnel, Mahavitaran employees, JCB machines, trucks and gas-cutting equipment.
Source: Loksatta
