Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVMC) has intensified its campaign against unsafe and unauthorised constructions, bringing down over 62,000 square feet of illegal structures in a large-scale operation carried out between 13 and 15 September. Civic officials confirmed that the three-day demolition drive targeted multiple wards across the twin city, covering both residential and commercial spaces deemed unsafe or illegally built.
The action was supervised by senior civic officials, with each ward assigned a team consisting of engineers and clerical staff to monitor the operation. The drive covered hazardous chawls, unauthorised high-rise additions, and dilapidated buildings that posed a safety risk to residents. In one of the most significant operations, demolition teams cleared thousands of square feet of illegal construction in densely populated areas such as Pragati Nagar, Datt Nagar, Pelhar, Kumbharpada, and Manvelpada. Hazardous chawls near Manikpur and unsafe structures in Koliwada and Tamtalao were also dismantled. According to civic records, the scale of the exercise amounted to more than 62,000 square feet of clearance within just three days.
Officials explained that the exercise was not an isolated intervention but part of a sustained crackdown on illegal construction that has proliferated in Vasai-Virar over the past decade. Rapid urbanisation in the region, coupled with rising housing demand, has led to unchecked encroachments and unsafe constructions. These structures often bypass safety norms, putting residents at grave risk, particularly during the monsoon season when the threat of collapse is heightened. Civic experts stressed that large-scale demolitions are essential not only to safeguard lives but also to restore discipline in urban planning. They pointed out that unauthorised buildings undermine sustainable growth, overburden civic amenities, and contribute to haphazard development patterns. Regularisation of such structures, they argue, creates long-term liabilities, while timely removal prevents tragedies.
A senior VVMC official noted that the civic body intends to pursue such operations on a regular basis. “This is a necessary step to protect citizens and bring order to the city’s development,” the official said, adding that similar campaigns will continue until illegal constructions are eliminated. The demolitions, while welcomed by urban safety advocates, also highlight the ongoing tension between development pressures and regulatory enforcement. Vasai-Virar, one of the fastest-growing urban clusters in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, is under mounting pressure to accommodate population growth while balancing sustainability, safety, and equitable housing.
As VVMC pushes forward with its demolition strategy, the drive signals a more assertive approach towards shaping a safer and more orderly urban environment, ensuring that public safety remains at the heart of urban governance.
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