Nearly 500 families continue to reside at Neelkanth Kingdom in Vidyavihar West, months after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) directed that its seven residential buildings be vacated over safety concerns.
The issue has come under renewed scrutiny following recent civic action against unauthorised construction and judicial intervention in other Mumbai housing projects. At Neelkanth Kingdom, the BMC issued an evacuation notice in February 2026 to land lessee Vidyavihar Containers Ltd and the architect, citing the safety of occupants.
The complex has reportedly remained without a valid Occupation Certificate (OC) and Fire NOC for more than two decades. Concerns intensified after multiple fire incidents, including a March 2025 blaze that killed a security guard and critically injured another person.
Stuti Galiya, solicitor and a flat owner, said, “The repeated incidents have heightened concerns over fire-safety arrangements in a complex reportedly lacking mandatory statutory clearances for decades.”
The BMC had previously taken action against occupants. Notices were issued in 2013-14 and again in 2018 over occupation without an OC and alleged unauthorised alterations. In 2019, the civic body filed around 374 prosecution cases against flat owners before the Shindewadi Court in Dadar. These cases are still pending.
Galiya said prolonged litigation and limited enforcement could create the impression that residents can continue occupying such premises indefinitely while proceedings remain unresolved.
The matter reached the Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Shindewadi on August 6, 2026, after a flat owner sought immediate intervention following repeated fires. The BMC told the court that the evacuation notice had already been issued and that it was awaiting directions from the chief fire officer before enforcing the order and sealing the premises.
Advocate Ramesh Chheda, who represents some flat owners, has also questioned the developer’s role and alleged that Gammon Neelkanth Realty Corporation should be made a party to the proceedings. These allegations remain subject to court proceedings.
“Residents feel they have nowhere to go,” he said.
With the evacuation order still awaiting implementation, residents and legal representatives are now questioning how long the safety directive can remain on paper while hundreds continue living inside the complex.
Source: Mid-day
