BMC bulldozes illegal structure near airport in 12 hours

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has foiled an attempt to construct a multi-storeyed structure near the Mumbai International Airport in Sahar village. So much so, that the civic body demolished the 10,000 square feet under-construction hotel in a span of just 12 hours.

During the intervening night between Thursday and Friday, an under-construction hotel with around 30 rooms was razed to the ground, said civic officials. According to civic officials, a three-floor building was being illegally constructed on a plot at Sutar Pakhadi area in Sahar village since the past seven months.

Taking note of it, the BMC periodically intimated the MMRDA about the unauthorised construction. A few days ago, MMRDA officials informed that the said plot did not come under their jurisdiction, and asked the civic body to take action against the construction. Accordingly, the BMC issued a “stop work” notice to the structure and also filed a caveat in court.

When K east ward officials started the demolition work, they faced stiff resistance. The developer’s men opposed  and manhandled the civic-designated officer Amol Chonpurge and mukadam Deepak Kurtadkar.

Prashant Sakpale, assistant municipal commissioner, K east ward, said, “Taking into account the growing resistance, we asked the local police to provide security to the demolition drive. They quickly provided a team of 20 policemen. Later, the illegal construction was demolished in 12 hours using bulldozer, JCB and other machines.”