It has not been secured or safeguarded till date, which has posed the risk to the pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Mumbai: Warning that the Esplanade Mansion building at Fort is likely to fall posing a grave risk to pedestrians and vehicular traffic, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has asked the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and its tenants to set up a fence around the building within 24 hours.

In a letter sent to Mhada’s Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board (MBR and R Board), the NOC holder and tenants of the building, the civic body has stated that Esplanade Mansion building is in ruinous conditions and likely to fall, which is dangerous to the persons passing by this building. It has not been secured or safeguarded till date, which has posed the risk to the pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

“In view of this, a proper and sufficient board or fence should be set up for the protection of passer-by and other persons with a convenient platform and handrail under the guidance of registered structural engineer within 24 hours to avoid any untoward incident and vehicular, pedestrian traffic on the adjoining roads be resumed at the earliest,” the letter said.

On July 15, a balcony portion at fourth floor level of the building had collapsed. “Thereafter, the abutting A. D’Mello Road was partly cordoned off for the safety of pedestrians and vehicular traffic. The adjoining roads are VIP roads having great vehicular movements daily. The cordoning of the said road has caused traffic jam and bottle necks at the area in the vicinity resulting to grave inconvenience to public at large,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner, A ward.

The Bombay high court has appointed the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-B) Mumbai to carry out a structural audit of the Esplanade Mansion.