Mumbai: With the monsoon season approaching and growing fears of flooding in the chronically waterlogged Parel railway station area, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a crackdown on contractors working on the Sewri-Worli Elevated Road project. The civic body has demolished illegal site structures and slapped penalties exceeding one crore rupees on agencies, including the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), linked to the construction work.
Action Following High-Level Meeting
The action comes after a high-level meeting held last week, prompted by ward officials raising concerns that ongoing construction activity, encroachments on footpaths, and debris dumping along key stretches could worsen waterlogging in the low-lying Parel belt. The BMC, starting last week, demolished five contractor chowkies and three godowns that had been erected on municipal footpaths in Parel. Officials stated that contractors had not obtained the necessary permissions even for stacking construction material on public pathways.
Penalties and Notices Issued
In a notice issued to MMRDA's superintendent engineer, the BMC demanded payment of Rs 1.39 crore towards ground rent charges for the alleged unauthorised use of footpaths between May 2024 and May 2025. The notice also warned that if the amount is not paid, it should be recovered from the contractors' running bills. Furthermore, the notice directed contractors to immediately clear all construction material and stated that fresh approval would be required even for partial use of footpaths for material stacking. The BMC stated, "If the footpath is found used for stacking material without permission, you will be charged... by imposing necessary penalty."
The BMC has also imposed additional penalties linked to the project works, including Rs 3.7 lakh towards dewatering charges, damage to the stormwater drain network, manholes, and water entrances, and Rs 14.85 lakh for damage caused to a water main. It has also recovered Rs 81,144 from MMRDA under the construction and demolition waste policy, while debris removal operations are currently underway.
Official Statements
Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Ashwini Joshi said a review meeting was held with MMRDA officials. "Our staff found blocked stormwater inlets and damage to the water main. The ward staff has raised other issues regarding damaged stormwater drains and covered manholes," she said. Additional Metropolitan Commissioner Vikram Kumar added, "Containers were there for the past 7 months. Given the urgency ahead of monsoon, they have been removed to ensure footpaths are free for public use." While he acknowledged procedural issues related to approvals and ground rent charges, he said these were being addressed. Regarding infrastructure repairs, he said damage to the sewer network is being rectified. In the case of the water main damage, he noted that no penalty notice has been received yet.
