The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will conduct a special Mumbai slum demolition drive from 1 October to 31 December 2026 against unauthorised structures measuring 14 feet or more, according to a report by Loksatta. The campaign is expected to cover about 39,000 such slum structures across the city.
The civic administration has warned residents to remove unauthorised additions voluntarily. Structures that are not removed may face eviction and demolition action by the municipal corporation, the report said. The decision forms part of the BMC’s effort to curb unauthorised construction in slum settlements.
The campaign will focus on huts and structures that have been extended vertically beyond the 14-foot threshold. The report said that many residents in Mumbai’s slum areas live in small spaces and add extra levels to existing huts because of limited room. The municipal action will therefore target structures that have grown taller than the prescribed height.
The enforcement plan has been issued under the directions of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Verma-Lawangare is guiding the operation, while Deputy Municipal Commissioner-level officer Devender Singh is leading the action, according to the report.
The announcement comes as the BMC is also conducting a ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to clear footpaths of unauthorised hawkers and encroachments. The two drives are being undertaken within the wider municipal focus on removing unauthorised occupation and construction from public and regulated spaces.
The demolition campaign will affect residents in areas where structures have been expanded beyond their original form. Loksatta’s report stated that around 60 per cent of Mumbai’s citizens live in slum settlements, underlining the scale of the housing areas that may come under scrutiny. The report did not provide a ward-wise list of the 39,000 structures, details of rehabilitation arrangements or information on how residents will be notified before action.
The BMC’s stated position is that residents should remove the unauthorised construction immediately to avoid action by the civic body. The special campaign is scheduled to continue for three months, from 1 October through 31 December 2026.
