When will BMC demolish its own dilapidated properties?

While the municipal commissioner is surveying various dilapidated buildings in the city, BMC is yet to take steps to raze its own rundown structures Shivaji Market in CST and Marol fire station

While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking stock of dilapidated buildings in the city, it has completely forgotten about demolishing its own ramshackled properties – the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Market and Marol fire station.

Shivaji Market on Palton Road had several BMC offices from the first to fourth floors, and a market and eatery on the ground floor. File pic

Both the market at CST and the fire station were vacated more than six months ago, but the civic body is yet to take action to demolish the rundown structures. mid-day has extensively reported about the crumbling Shivaji Market and its broken chajjahs, ramshackle interiors and overall deplorable and dangerous condition.

The four-storey market, on Palton Road in BMC’s A ward, was declared a disintegrating market in the C1 category. The Marol fire station, too, has been in a dilapidated condition for years now. The BMC had promised to demolish both structures and rebuild them afresh, but they continue to stand to this day, posing a danger to hundreds of motorists and pedestrians who pass them by every day.

The civic authorities are reviewing the status of old buildings in the city Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte himself is surveying several structures. However, of the several building collapses in the city over the course of last year, one of the major incidents was one of BMC’s own properties its residential quarters on Dockyard Road, for employees of its Markets department. 61 people died when the building came tumbling down on September 27, 2013.

Dilip Lande, MNS corporator, said, “I don’t understand why the administration always has to sit on demolition of its own properties. They can get them pulled down once the buildings are vacated. Marol fire station and Shivaji Market are examples of BMC’s lethargic attitude. They need to raze these buildings soon, with the monsoon just a month away.”

BMC speak
Sanjay Deshmukh, additional municipal commissioner and in-charge of Planning and Development department, said, “We are in the process of appointing contractors for demolitions of various buildings. A survey of old and dilapidated buildings is on. Once the contractors are appointed, we will start taking action.”

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