The Bombay High Court has ordered the demolition of dangerously dilapidated buildings in Vasai, emphasising that public safety cannot be compromised by a small group of dissenting residents. The ruling comes in the wake of recurring building collapses across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, underlining the urgent need for proactive civic governance and sustainable redevelopment.
The matter concerned housing societies at Diwan and Sons Housing Enclave on Ambadi Road in Vasai (West), where four buildings had been categorised as unsafe for habitation. After structural audits confirmed their deteriorated state, the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) declared them C-1 structures, requiring immediate demolition. The court made it clear that once such classification is made, residents must vacate, and no individual or minority faction can delay redevelopment already endorsed by the majority. The judgement gains urgency as the region continues to witness tragedies from neglected and illegal constructions. Just days earlier, a building collapse in Virar claimed multiple lives, reinforcing concerns over the failure of timely intervention in unsafe structures. Officials pointed out that delayed decision-making, often fuelled by internal disputes among residents, has worsened risks for thousands living in ageing housing blocks across Mumbai’s extended suburbs.
In the present case, an overwhelming majority of members in both societies had already voted in favour of redevelopment, appointing a developer to lead the project. Yet, a handful of residents resisted demolition, citing grievances over aspects of the redevelopment plan. The court held that such objections could not be allowed to endanger lives or obstruct lawful civic action. It reaffirmed earlier precedents where redevelopment was recognised as a majority-driven process, essential for public safety and community progress. The civic body has been directed to carry out demolition with immediate effect, with police protection to ensure there is no obstruction. Residents opposing the order have been given a short extension to vacate on condition of filing written undertakings. Failure to comply will empower the VVCMC to proceed with forced eviction. The court also clarified that the cost of demolition must be borne by the housing societies, though the appointed developer may undertake the work if authorised within a fixed timeframe.
Experts say the ruling signals a firm judicial stance towards unsafe housing, which continues to be a critical urban challenge. Mumbai’s extended suburbs are dotted with ageing cooperative housing societies, many over four decades old, now requiring urgent repair or redevelopment. With monsoon rains aggravating structural weaknesses, the emphasis on swift civic action and coordinated redevelopment resonates with the broader call for safer, sustainable, and equitable urban living. While the order provides temporary relief by ensuring dangerous structures are removed, it also highlights the need for long-term city planning rooted in safety, inclusivity, and resilience. For Vasai’s residents, the court’s intervention may well mark the beginning of a new chapter towards modern, sustainable housing that prioritises both community consensus and public welfare.
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