Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has launched a sweeping demolition drive across nine wards, bringing down 151 unauthorised structures since June 19. The operation, which accelerated following a recent directive from the High Court, signals the civic body’s renewed focus on illegal constructions, especially in densely populated and infrastructurally sensitive zones like Mumbra’s Shil area.
According to senior officials overseeing the campaign, 117 structures were entirely razed while partial demolitions were carried out on 34 properties with unauthorised extensions such as sheds, turfs, plinths and makeshift seating areas. Civic officials highlighted that the bulk of demolitions were conducted in Diva, which accounted for 40 of the 151 cases, followed by major actions in Majivada-Manpada, Mumbra, Kalwa, and other city zones. The crackdown has seen the deployment of heavy machinery including JCBs, Poklen excavators, gas cutters and tractor-mounted breakers. This mechanical precision was reinforced by personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force and local police stations, ensuring a largely peaceful execution of orders in often volatile locations.
In Mumbra’s MK Compound locality alone, civic authorities targeted 21 buildings for illegal modifications. Officials say the area, which has long been under the scanner for rampant unauthorised construction, is a critical node in the wider enforcement push. Behind the scenes, the anti-encroachment operation is being monitored daily by senior officers. Additional Commissioners are reviewing progress in real time, supported by dedicated teams from engineering, encroachment, and ward offices. These units are coordinated through the municipal commissioner’s office, with clear instructions to act decisively while maintaining law and order.
The civic administration’s decision to act follows mounting pressure from judicial and environmental quarters to stem the growing tide of illegal developments that threaten planned urban growth. Senior urban governance experts have long argued that the unchecked sprawl of unauthorised structures not only overloads civic services but also weakens environmental safeguards and disaster resilience in flood-prone areas. While the TMC’s action may disrupt livelihoods in the short term, especially among those operating out of unregulated spaces, officials maintain that due process has been followed, and multiple warnings were issued to the offenders. The administration also confirmed that the drive is not one-off but part of a longer-term enforcement strategy designed to restore spatial order ahead of future development milestones.
As Thane pushes forward with its infrastructural agenda, including key smart city projects and metro connectivity, officials assert that reclaiming land from encroachments is vital for sustainable growth. The current drive sets a precedent not just in civic enforcement but in aligning urban governance with legal and ecological accountability.
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