633 ‘extremely dilapidated’ buildings in Mumbai

Mumbai: One of the major challenges the BMC faces every year is vacating residents of dilapidated buildings before the monsoon hits the city. However, resistance from residents and court cases stop the BMC from taking stern action. The latest data says Mumbai has 4,299 dilapidated buildings, of which 633 come under the C1 “extremely dilapidated” category.

However, the BMC has succeeded in vacating only 62 C1 buildings till now, and demolished only 43.

In the remaining buildings, people are staying despite serving notices.  As per the latest data, Mumbai has a total 4,299 dilapidated buildings of which 3,368 are private-owned, 187 are government-owned and 744 are of the BMC itself. The total number includes dilapidated buildings of the C1, C2 and C3 categories. The C2 and C3 categories have buildings which are dilapidated but do not need demolition. These buildings need fresh structural audit and necessary repairs.

The C1 category is a term for extremely dilapidated buildings that are unsafe to stay, need to be vacated at the earliest, and demolished. There are 633 C1 category buildings in Mumbai, of which the maximum are in areas like Kurla, Parel, Dadar, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Chembur and many areas of the western suburbs.  

The extremely dilapidated buildings are at high risk of collapse, especially during the monsoon. However, people continue to stay and risk their lives. “For vacating the buildings, BMC has to follow procedures like giving notices to buildings and if they still resist, we disconnect the water and electricity supply, and if they further refuse to vacate, the police can evacuate residents. It was in 2016 that the court allowed the police to evacuate the buildings in order to hasten the evacuation procedure when residents remain stubborn and put their lives at risk,” said a senior civic officer.  

Of the total 633 C1 category buildings, 543 are privately-owned, 11 are government-owned and 79 belong to the BMC. Out of the 633, the BMC has disconnected the water and electricity of 132 buildings, but people are still living there.