Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Mumbai civic body faces backlash over planned demolition drive
Mumbai’s civic body, the BMC, plans to remove many structures it says are unauthorised.
The plan was announced on September 19 and is set to begin on October 1.
It is expected to last three months.
The BMC says the drive will target 39,111 housing structures in Mumbai’s slums.
It will also target illegal structures and encroachments that are 14 feet or taller.
City corporators from different political parties objected to the plan.
They said they were not asked for their views before it was announced.
They also questioned how the BMC chose the structures for demolition.
A BJP corporator had earlier raised similar concerns about the BMC’s pedestrian-first policy.
The BMC announced a three-month drive against 39,111 unauthorised housing structures in Mumbai’s slums.
The drive is scheduled to begin on October 1 after the September 19 announcement.
The civic body plans to target illegal structures and encroachments measuring 14 feet or taller.
Corporators across party lines said they were not consulted before the demolition plan was announced.
During a standing committee meeting, elected representatives questioned the selection criteria and urged the administration to withdraw the plan.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai corporators, and civic chief Ashwini Bhide are involved.
- What
- The BMC announced a three-month drive to demolish or remove unauthorised structures and encroachments.
- When
- The plan was announced on September 19, with the drive scheduled to begin October 1; objections were raised at a standing committee meeting on Wednesday.
- Where
- Mumbai, including slum areas.
- Why
- The BMC is targeting structures it identifies as unauthorised, while corporators are challenging the basis and process of the proposed demolitions.
Civic administration
Elected representatives
Need for the demolition drive
Civic administration
The BMC announced action against 39,111 unauthorised housing structures and illegal structures or encroachments 14 feet or taller.
Elected representatives
Corporators across party lines urged the administration to roll back the plan and questioned the basis for selecting structures.
Consultation and process
Civic administration
The civic administration announced the drive as part of its action against unauthorised structures and encroachments.
Elected representatives
Corporators alleged they were not consulted before the announcement, echoing an earlier complaint about the pedestrian-first policy.
- Civic body
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
- Announcement date
- September 19
- Planned start
- October 1
- Planned duration
- Three months
- Structures listed
- 39,111 unauthorised housing structures
- Height threshold
- Illegal structures and encroachments 14 feet or taller
- Main objection
- Corporators said elected representatives were not consulted and questioned the selection criteria