The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered the immediate closure and evacuation of Orchid City Centre Mall on Bellasis Road in Mumbai Central, following a Supreme Court directive issued on August 25, with occupants barred from entering or using the fire-damaged premises until structural repairs and mandatory fire-safety requirements are completed.
The civic body’s D Ward issued an eviction notice on September 1 to shop owners, occupants and visitors, directing them to vacate the property. The action follows the Supreme Court’s order in the matter of Esa Usman Seliya & Ors v/s The MCGM & Ors, reported the sources.
Under the court’s directions, the entire building must remain non-operational until the damage caused by the major fire is fully addressed. The structure can be reopened only after the builder completes the required repairs and the BMC is satisfied that all floors are structurally safe for occupation.
Fire Safety Approval Mandatory
The Supreme Court has also directed that re-entry and reoccupation will be permitted only after all applicable statutory fire-safety norms are complied with and the competent municipal authorities grant the necessary approval.
Following the order, officials from the BMC Building Proposal department, Fire Brigade and D Ward served eviction notices on the developers, including M/s Neelkamal Realtors & Builders Pvt. Ltd., M/s DB Realty and M/s Neelkamal City Shopping Mall India Ltd.
The directive covers shops and commercial units on the ground and first floors, with occupants instructed to immediately vacate their respective galas, units and shops.
BMC Warns of Forced Eviction
The civic body has cautioned that failure to comply with the notice could lead to forcible eviction. Any such action would be carried out at the owners’ and occupants’ risk and cost.
The BMC has also warned that unauthorised entry into, or continued occupation of, the premises could amount to contempt of the Supreme Court’s order.
2020 Fire Caused Extensive Damage
The latest action stems from the major fire that broke out at Orchid City Centre Mall on October 22, 2020. Firefighting efforts continued for around 56 hours, with the blaze causing extensive damage to the structure.
The incident also brought scrutiny to allegedly unauthorised commercial units within the complex. Following the fire, the BMC demolished more than 700 units and shops that it classified as unauthorised.
The latest Supreme Court directive means the mall will remain closed until the necessary structural restoration is completed. Operations can resume only after the BMC verifies the safety of the building, statutory fire-safety conditions are fulfilled and the required permissions for reoccupation are granted.
Source: The Free Press Journal
