MHADA Declares 96 Buildings in South Mumbai ‘Extremely Dangerous’; Evacuation Orders Issued Ahead of Monsoon

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has declared 96 residential buildings in South Mumbai as extremely dangerous and has asked residents to vacate these premises before the upcoming monsoon season. This warning follows the completion of MHADA’s annual pre-monsoon structural audit, which assesses the condition of older and cessed buildings in the city. Along with MHADA’s action, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified 134 additional dilapidated buildings throughout Mumbai and issued immediate eviction notices to the occupants of these buildings.

The 96 buildings identified by MHADA are located in several parts of South Mumbai, including Girgaum, Kalbadevi, Khetwadi, Chowpatty, Prabhadevi, Mazgaon, Dadar, Matunga, Parel, and Lalbag. A total of 3,162 tenants are living in these high-risk buildings and have been advised to move out immediately for their safety. Among these buildings, two had already been declared extremely dangerous in the previous year’s audit, showing that some risks remain unaddressed over time.

Every year, before the monsoon arrives, MHADA carries out structural inspections on old buildings to check their safety. This is done under the Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB). Based on these inspections, buildings that are found to be unsafe are classified as dangerous or extremely dangerous, and residents living in these buildings are asked to evacuate. The goal of this process is to reduce the chance of building collapses and accidents during the heavy rains that Mumbai experiences during the monsoon season.

MHADA also offers assistance to residents of unsafe buildings by providing temporary transit tenements. These accommodations are meant to offer a safe place to stay while longer-term plans for repairing or redeveloping the buildings are prepared. However, many residents hesitate to move due to personal reasons such as proximity to their workplace or schools, social connections within their communities, or concerns about the cost and disruption caused by relocation. This reluctance makes it difficult for MHADA to clear unsafe buildings quickly and adds to the challenges of ensuring safety.

At the same time, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been active in identifying unsafe buildings across the city. The BMC’s recent identification of 134 dilapidated buildings and eviction orders highlights the widespread nature of the problem in Mumbai. Last year, MHADA had listed 20 buildings as extremely dangerous in South Mumbai, while BMC identified 188 unsafe buildings across Mumbai. The continued discovery of unsafe structures shows that Mumbai faces an ongoing challenge related to its aging housing infrastructure.

The issue of redevelopment is central to this problem. Many buildings in Mumbai are decades old and were constructed under different standards. Over the years, many have deteriorated due to lack of proper maintenance and repairs. Redeveloping these buildings requires coordination between residents, landlords, developers, and government bodies. This process can often be complicated and slow, leading to delays in addressing the risks posed by unsafe structures.

In recent years, there have been several incidents of building collapses during the monsoon, resulting in injuries and loss of life. These events underline the importance of timely action to prevent such tragedies. Despite efforts by authorities to encourage redevelopment and repairs, progress has not always matched the urgency of the situation.

Earlier this month, MHADA called on landlords, residents, and housing societies of more than 13,000 old and unsafe buildings in Mumbai to begin the process of redevelopment. MHADA emphasized that many of these cessed buildings fall under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board and are unfit for habitation. The agency has stressed that addressing the risks posed by these buildings is critical, especially with the monsoon season approaching.

The authorities continue to monitor the condition of these buildings closely and urge all stakeholders to cooperate with redevelopment efforts. The safety of residents depends on prompt action to repair or replace unsafe structures.

Image source- mhada.gov.in