Mumbai’s civic education wing recently took a dramatic step by declaring two school buildings in Colaba unsafe, prompting hybrid education arrangements for 2,800 students. Following structural assessments by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s School Infrastructure Cell (SIC), the English-medium section’s 1,500 students were shifted online, while the remaining students from Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, and Urdu sections were relocated to nearby municipal schools.
The school campus comprises two ageing buildings, which house eight language-medium sections. The SIC first flagged the building for demolition in November 2024. Since January 2025, education authorities initiated shifting affected students, but English-medium students remained without alternate classrooms when both buildings were suddenly deemed dilapidated in June—even though one building had been earlier classified as requiring only major repairs (C2 rating), not outright demolition. Community representatives and the teachers’ union appealed to BMC officials to demolish one building at a time, preserving some classroom space. However, the BMC issued an order vacating both structures starting 15 July, forcing English-medium students into online learning.
Parents voiced concern over educational disruption. One shared that the children were enrolled for teaching quality, but now face indefinite virtual schooling. They urged authorities to use open spaces or public amenity areas in Colaba for temporary classrooms. Another parent highlighted overcrowding and poor conditions at alternative municipal schools like Bora Bazaar. An education department official confirmed the ongoing search for rental spaces or amenity centres to house students. A previously relocated group has been quartered at Colaba Market municipal school, where around 830 students from non-English sections have resumed in-person classes. Older English-medium students from grades 9 and 10 were placed temporarily at Bora Bazaar school, though without much satisfaction from parents.
During a consultation with civic representatives, a parent reported that the local MLA had pledged to escalate the issue. The Deputy Municipal Commissioner overseeing education stated that no official welfare centre or rental location is currently available. She noted that the only workable interim site, Colaba Market school, had earlier been occupied by election offices. The BMC is exploring feasible leased alternatives. This classroom crisis highlights broader urban infrastructure governance issues: aging public buildings, inadequate contingency planning, and the impact of sudden administrative decisions on students. Notably, structural audits are mandated by BMC regulations for buildings older than 30 years. Various civic schools across Mumbai were identified for demolition or major repair in recent years—Colaba being among them.
As Mumbai pursues equitable and sustainable education policy, the unfolding scenario underscores the importance of phased building rehabilitation, transparent safety audits, and proactive stakeholder engagement. Ensuring continuity of learning, especially for vulnerable sections, remains essential for urban resilience and social equity.
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