The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a crackdown on 70 unauthorised hotels situated around Mumbai’s international airport. This decisive move, focused primarily on areas including Saki Naka, Asalpha, and LBS Road, involves severe measures such as cutting off utility services and initiating demolition proceedings.
The BMC’s L Ward, under the leadership of the Medical Officer of Health, has identified a critical need to address the safety and regulatory breaches associated with these unlicensed establishments. The medical official has highlighted that the BMC’s intervention marks a new strategy, involving the disconnection of electricity, water, and drainage services—a step previously unexplored. Prior enforcement actions had been limited to seizing movable property from these lodgings. The push for action is driven by severe concerns about safety and legal compliance.
The tragic fire at Hotel Galaxy in Santacruz last year, which claimed three lives, underscores the risks posed by such establishments. The official noted that these unauthorised hotels often lack approved architectural plans, fail to meet safety standards, and are located in areas inaccessible to emergency services. Moreover, they operate without the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) from aviation authorities, which is essential for businesses situated near an airport. The BMC’s current strategy includes disconnecting utilities to impede operations, a tactic that has not been employed before. This measure aims to prevent these hotels from circumventing regulations through legal loopholes.
The matter is expected to be taken to court, where substantial fines could be imposed, potentially leading to the permanent closure of these establishments. The BMC plans to reassess the situation in 15 days to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. The existence of unregulated hotels in proximity to a major international airport raises significant security concerns, including the potential facilitation of unlawful activities. Similar issues have been reported in other airport-adjacent areas like Andheri East and Kurla, highlighting a broader problem that the BMC aims to tackle comprehensively.
