Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has escalated its citywide campaign against unauthorised constructions, with intensified demolitions across Belapur, Nerul, and Vashi.
The civic authority’s encroachment department, acting under top-level instructions and policy supervision, launched this comprehensive drive after repeated legal notices failed to yield voluntary compliance. The operation marks a significant administrative push to reclaim public land and enforce the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, strengthening institutional resolve against illegal development. In Belapur, a key housing society in Sector 15 ignored official instructions to dismantle unauthorised extensions on designated plots. The continued defiance of civic orders prompted the department to proceed with mechanical demolition using dedicated manpower and resources. The structures, flagged under the applicable urban development legislation, were razed after due process, underscoring the Corporation’s zero-tolerance stance towards planning violations.
Simultaneously, authorities cleared 28 illegal hutments in Sector 28 of Nerul, situated on land owned by the city’s planning authority. The makeshift dwellings had sprung up in violation of land use norms, and their occupants had been previously directed to vacate the premises voluntarily. Upon failure to comply, municipal teams, supported by ground staff and machinery, carried out the clearance with adequate security arrangements. The approach signals that civic authorities are prepared to act decisively to stem the proliferation of encroachments that threaten the city’s spatial integrity and environmental balance.
Earlier in the week, the civic body carried out another round of demolition in Vashi’s Sector 31A and adjacent areas, removing over 100 illegal hutments built under high-pressure pipelines and on municipal and state-owned land. This operation was conducted in a coordinated fashion, with civic staff, security personnel, and heavy machinery deployed to ensure smooth execution. These areas, strategically located, had seen a gradual increase in unauthorised settlements, posing risks to public safety and long-term infrastructure sustainability.
The recent actions highlight the importance of inter-departmental coordination and the mobilisation of civic resources to enforce zoning laws. As Navi Mumbai continues to expand, pressures on public land have increased, often resulting in rapid and unregulated construction. By proactively removing encroachments, the civic body is not only reclaiming space but also signalling its commitment to equitable urban development and a legally compliant housing ecosystem. While these moves may inconvenience some in the short term, they aim to create safer, more sustainable urban environments for the wider citizenry. With urbanisation accelerating, such firm actions serve as a reminder that unplanned growth will be met with decisive and lawful resistance.
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Navi Mumbai removes illegal homes built on public land in city zones
