BMC demolishes 13 per cent of illegal structures

Mumbai: The scourge of illegal constructions seems to have flourished over a decade owing to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s apparent inactions, a RTI reply has revealed.

Of a total 2,14,917 complaints against unauthorised structures received between March 1, 2016-Oct. 26, 2026, the BMC has actually acted to complete demolition in just 13,211 cases, said the RTI response given to social activist Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh.

Shaikh said that even after eliminating 1,16,228 classified as ‘duplicate complaints’, the number of genuine complaints stood at a formidable 98,689 for the entire city.

“However, against this mountain of public grievances, the BMC’s demolition record was dismal, raising serious questions about the efficiency of its enforcement machinery,” Shaikh said.

The gap between the administrative action and ground results was even more worrying. Although 57,521 notices were issued and 31,486 show-cause orders served, demolition was found to be required in 29,916 cases, but was actually initiated and completed in only 13,211 cases (13.28 pc of genuine 98,689 complaints).

Post-demolitions, the complaints were formally closed in just 3,428 cases, indicating a disconnect between lodging complaints, initiating proceedings and actually razing the illegal constructions, said Shaikh.

The RTI revelations have laid bare the functioning of the civic body’s online Real Estate Tracking and Monitoring System (RETMS) – which is intended to track complaints against unauthorised constructions.

“When almost one lakh genuine complaints in the RETMS have been gathering dust over 10 years, why did the BMC administration fail to initiate enforcement proceedings or decisive action?” he demanded.

Court Questions BMC
The civic body’s record came under scrutiny against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s order in a case of encroachments on land reserved for a BEST bus depot in Borivali East. The apex court took a stern view of the long delays in removing the encroachment, and issued directions stopping the salary of the BMC Municipal Commissioner Ashwini S. Bhide.

As there were many red faces in the civic and state administration, the SC withdrew its order after the BMC squad bulldozed the encroachments yesterday.

Shaikh questioned if it was necessary for the apex court to intervene in such matters, and shake up the BMC before its teams went against illegalities despite getting so many complaints and having the powers to act.

The civic body already spends huge on its Buildings & Factory Department, demolition machinery, police security and other things, yet thousands of unauthorised constructions await the BMC’s hammer. The activist asked if any officers are being held accountable for the delays and failure to bring down illegal structures.