NMMC Identifies 2,111 Buildings Without Occupancy Certificates, Urges Immediate Compliance

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has formally acknowledged that 2,111 buildings within its jurisdiction are currently functioning without the mandatory occupancy certificates (OCs), as revealed through an official public notice released following directives from the Bombay High Court.

The issue surfaced during hearings on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and a subsequent Writ Petition, leading to the court’s directive on October 25, 2024. Following this directive, the municipal administration conducted an extensive physical and documentation-based survey across all wards to identify structures lacking OCs despite holding construction commencement certificates.

Based on the findings, NMMC compiled a detailed inventory of such non-compliant buildings. The list is now accessible to the public on the official civic website (www.nmmc.gov.in) and is also displayed at all eight ward offices across the city. These buildings had received permissions to commence construction but failed to secure OCs before occupation, which is a breach of planning and building regulatory provisions.

NMMC Commissioner and Administrator Kailas Shinde has directed concerned parties to promptly apply for occupancy certificates with the Town Planning Department, stating that failure to comply will lead to enforcement action under the Maharashtra Regional Planning and Town Planning Act, 1966, through the designated officer.

The municipal authority has stated that these buildings and housing societies are presently operating in violation of local building occupancy regulations. NMMC officials have urged occupants to complete the formalities required to obtain OCs to regularize the status of their premises and avoid penalties or other legal consequences.

While emphasizing the legal obligation, the NMMC administration has positioned this campaign as a step to ensure public safety, maintain accurate municipal records, and enforce statutory building protocols. The civic body has made it clear that obtaining an OC is a pre-condition for lawful occupation under the current urban planning framework.

According to officials, the publication of this list marks the beginning of a broader compliance drive. The administration is expected to initiate direct communication with residents of the identified buildings in the coming weeks. In the absence of corrective action from occupants or housing societies, the NMMC has warned that it will initiate enforcement proceedings as per the provisions of the law.

A section of local residents has expressed concern over the delayed enforcement of existing rules. Sameer Tupe, a resident familiar with the matter, stated that responsibility must be fixed at the ward level. “This is a sheer lapse on the part of the civic administration and the civic body has to fix the responsibility on the ward officers of respective wards for dereliction of duties,” he said.

Legal experts note that occupancy certificates serve as evidence that a building complies with applicable norms, including fire safety, structural stability, and sanitation. Without them, buildings are considered incomplete from a regulatory standpoint. The absence of OCs also complicates property transactions, bank financing, and the formation of cooperative housing societies.

The current initiative follows repeated warnings from the Maharashtra government in earlier years about rising instances of unauthorized occupation of newly constructed buildings in various urban regions. Navi Mumbai has been under scrutiny for such lapses, especially in fast-growing nodes like Kharghar, Nerul, and Airoli.

NMMC's move to make the list public reflects a change in strategy from previous approaches, which relied largely on direct notices to developers and societies. By involving occupants directly and creating public awareness, the corporation aims to increase compliance rates.

However, the civic body is likely to face administrative challenges in processing a large number of OC applications within a short time. Town planning officials have been instructed to assist residents with documentation and expedite pending verification procedures.

This development is expected to have a significant impact on the local real estate sector, particularly resale and rental transactions in the affected buildings. Legal advisers and real estate consultants have urged flat owners to initiate the OC application process immediately to avoid disruption in property-related activities.

Image source- nmmc.gov.in