In the wake of the Virar East building collapse that claimed 17 lives, the Maharashtra Government has announced the demolition of 141 unauthorised structures across the Vasai-Virar region in Palghar district. The demolitions are planned to commence after the conclusion of the 10-day Ganpati festival, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (September 6, 2025).
The Virar East incident occurred early on a last week Wednesday morning when a building collapsed onto an adjacent vacant tenement in Vijay Nagar. The tragedy prompted immediate intervention from state authorities, with Maharashtra Minister Ganesh Naik visiting the site to assess the damage and meet the affected families.
Officials confirmed that the collapse was the result of longstanding administrative neglect, with unsafe structures allowed to develop unchecked over the years. Naik’s office identified 141 high-risk buildings across the Vasai-Virar region for demolition as a preventive measure to avert further tragedies.
A high-level review meeting convened by Naik included District Collector Indu Rani Jakhar, Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) Commissioner Manojkumar Suryavanshi, MP Hemant Savara, and MLAs Sneha Pandit-Dubey and Rajan Naik. The meeting focused on planning the demolition schedule, mapping unauthorised constructions, and outlining strategies to enhance urban safety.
MLA Sneha Pandit-Dubey highlighted systemic failures in the local administration, noting that multiple warnings about illegal constructions had gone unheeded. She called for the formation of special ward-wise teams to identify unsafe buildings and recommended strict action against officials found protecting such constructions. Pandit-Dubey also pointed to a nexus between certain municipal officers and local land or chawl mafias, warning that such networks could continue to drive unsafe building practices unless dismantled.
Minister Naik indicated that rehabilitation of residents currently living in the identified structures would be raised with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to ensure adequate housing solutions before demolition begins. The state is reportedly preparing detailed plans for relocation and temporary accommodation for affected families.
The demolition drive is part of a broader push to strengthen building safety norms and enforce urban planning regulations in Vasai-Virar. Authorities aim to prevent further tragedies while improving compliance among developers and property owners.
The Virar East collapse has exposed critical gaps in municipal governance, particularly in controlling the proliferation of unauthorised structures in rapidly urbanising areas. With the Ganpati festival marking a temporary pause, state officials are set to combine enforcement with community engagement to enhance urban safety.
The planned removal of unauthorised buildings is expected to significantly reduce risk in the region and demonstrates the state government’s focus on stricter enforcement, accountability, and preventive action.
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