Navi Mumbai Takes Action: 527 Buildings Deemed Unsafe, Audits Mandated By NMMC

A total of 527 structures in Navi Mumbai have been officially classified as "dilapidated" by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) for the year 2024-25, according to the Hindustan Times (HT) report. This decision follows a thorough survey conducted to identify buildings that are unstable and pose a risk to public safety.

As part of the initiative, NMMC has made it mandatory for buildings older than 30 years to undergo a structural audit to ensure their safety. The survey was carried out under Section 264 of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act (MMCA), which includes sub-sections 1, 2, 3, and 4. The 30-year period is determined from the date the building was first occupied or when it received its occupancy certificate, whether full or partial.

Photo Credit: PTI

The structural audits for buildings over 30 years old must be conducted by a registered construction or structural engineer from the NMMC's approved panel. These audits must be submitted to the concerned ward office or the town planning department by March 31, 2025.

Failure to comply with these regulations will result in significant penalties. According to the town planning department, as per Section 3948 A of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, non-compliance will incur a fine of either Rs 25,000 or an amount equal to the annual property tax of the building, whichever is higher.

Additionally, for buildings undergoing redevelopment, those availing redevelopment benefits, or those less than 30 years old, NMMC has made it mandatory to conduct the audit through IIT Bombay. This step was introduced due to past incidents where structural audit reports for buildings as young as 15 years old were manipulated to declare them dilapidated for redevelopment purposes.

Dr. Rahul Gethe, the deputy municipal commissioner in charge of encroachment, explained in the report, "There were cases where the structural audit reports of buildings around 15 years old were altered to get them declared dilapidated and redeveloped. To prevent such practices, the commissioner has mandated that the structural audit be conducted by IIT Bombay."