The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has intensified its efforts to address unsafe living conditions in the city. On Wednesday, NMMC officials, accompanied by police, forcibly evacuated 61 residents from a dilapidated ground-plus-two building in Shirwane. This action followed a 24-hour notice issued to the occupants the previous evening.
The evacuation was prompted by a critical survey revealing the building’s severe deterioration. According to the municipal commissioner, the structure exhibited extensive damage, including large cracks, significant algae growth, and crumbling concrete. Previous notices to vacate the building had been ignored, necessitating immediate action to prevent a disaster similar to the recent collapse in Belapur. As Navi Mumbai continues to address these challenges, the focus will remain on preventing future tragedies and improving the management of deteriorating buildings across the city.
The NMMC’s intervention involved relocating the displaced residents to a temporary shelter in Juinagar. The building, constructed in 1992, is currently under scrutiny to determine its legal status and safety risks. The civic administration has requested a detailed report from the engineering department to assess whether the building poses a threat and whether demolition is warranted. An official from the Nerul ward office indicated that the flats within the building are now sealed pending further decision-making. The building, comprising 12 flats—nine of which are owned by the builder and the remaining leased out—has long been the subject of tenant complaints about its external condition.
Despite regular appeals for repairs, the builder allegedly neglected maintenance, focusing only on the internal condition of the flats. Residents expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting the disparity between the building’s external decay and its internal condition. The forced evacuation, while necessary for safety, has sparked discussions about the adequacy of existing regulatory measures and the need for stricter enforcement of building maintenance standards. This incident underscores the critical need for vigilant oversight and timely intervention by municipal authorities to ensure the safety of residential structures.
