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Mumbai’s Slum Skyscrapers: A Hidden Development Boom

MUMBAI: With the city unable to expand horizontally, Mumbai’s vast slums are evolving vertically. In areas like Govandi, Kurla, and Bandra East, traditional ground-plus-one shanties are giving way to ‘slum skyscrapers’ that reach five to seven stories, openly defying the 14-foot height limit. Civic activist Zoru Bathena, who resides in Juhu, points to areas close to Juhu Tara Road where shanties have transformed into four-story structures. Despite multiple complaints to local authorities, enforcement of regulations remains inconsistent. “The BMC intervened briefly, but construction resumed shortly after,” Bathena noted, emphasizing that while these slums have existed for years, their recent multi-story…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Bombay HC Orders Demolition of Ulhasnagar Tower Over Fraudulent Permits

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has upheld the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation’s order to demolish the 16-storey “Jhalak Paradise” building in Ulhasnagar, rejecting a petition from the developer and criticizing both the builder and civic officials for allegations of fraud and significant violations. Justices Kamal Khata and A.S. Gadkari mentioned that the petitioners had “clearly misled the Corporation and obtained approvals unlawfully.” The court further pointed out that the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation officials neglected to verify documents before giving permissions. Inconsistencies in the developer’s claims were noted by the bench. Although the petitioners referenced a 2021 report indicating that the plot…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

HC Orders Residents to Vacate 18-Floor Building in 2 Weeks

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has labeled residents of the top 18 floors of the 34-storey Willingdon Heights building in Tardeo as “selfish” for ignoring the need for an occupation certificate (OC). The court has ordered these occupants to vacate their flats within two weeks. A bench led by Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor criticized the residents for their “brazen illegality” in occupying flats without the necessary OC. The court instructed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take action if the order is not followed, stating that these affluent residents are knowingly violating building regulations while evading legal consequences.…