Will Big B lose part of his bungalow to BMC?

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday acquired a portion of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s neighbouring bungalow in Juhu.

The BMC’s K-West ward demolished the compound wall of the bungalow owned by businessman K.V. Satyamurthy.

“The Bombay high court on Wednesday vacated the stay on the acquisition of the plot which is required for the widening of the road. We have acquired over eight feet of the plot outside the bungalow which was encroached during the redevelopment. Soon the contractors will start with the road-widening work,” said Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Prashant Gaikwad.

“Six to seven feet plot where Amitabh Bachchan’s Prateeksha bungalow is located will be acquired soon. Mr Bachchan has not yet responded to our letters,” added Mr Gaikwad.  

When asked about the further course of action, Mr Gaikwad said, “The two cases (Bachchan and Satyamurthy) are different. Mr Satyamurthy’s property does not have an occupation certificate as he used additional FSI and also encroached the road line when the property was being redeveloped into a building. While Mr Bachchan’s Prateeksha is the original build old structure.”

The BMC in 2017 had sent notices to Mr Bachchan and his neighbour Mr Satyamurthy to hand over the encroached land for widening of the Sant Dyaneshwar Marg outside their bungalows to clear the traffic congestion in the area. The road outside their bungalow connects Chandan Cinema road to Link Road.

A project has been undertaken to increase the width of the road from 45 feet to 60 feet. Majority of the work is done and only the portion along these bungalows is remaining.

After receiving the BMC’s notice, Mr Satyamurthy approached the civil court to restrain the BMC from acquiring his property. He lost the case.

Later, Mr Satyamurthy appealed in the high court and lost the there too.

Although Mr Bachchan has not responded to BMC’s notices, he is most likely to lose the portion of his house sooner or later.