174 Extremely Dangerous Buildings in Mumbai; H West, K West Tops List

Mumbai continues to grapple with the risks posed by old buildings, especially the ones from the British-era, ahead of the monsoon season. Each year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) conducts inspections to identify structures that are at risk of collapse.

In the latest survey, 174 buildings have been classified as extremely dangerous. Among these, the highest numbers were recorded in H West (22 buildings) and K West (18 buildings). So far, 72 of these structures have been vacated, while 71 cases remain stuck in legal proceedings.

Of the total, 23 buildings belong to the municipal corporation, 141 are privately owned, and 10 fall under government or MHADA ownership. Despite the dangers, many residents hesitate to leave, often ignoring safety concerns. In some cases, occupants seek court stays, which delays evacuation and leaves the buildings in a hazardous condition.

BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and stated that a long-term strategy will be developed to address it.

In addition to unsafe buildings, certain areas such as Bhandup, Vikhroli, Kurla East, and Sakinaka are highly vulnerable to landslides. Across Mumbai, 249 locations have been identified as landslide-prone, with protective wall construction currently underway at 96 sites through MHADA.

Authorities have also been instructed to establish clear evacuation protocols and review the effectiveness of previously constructed safety measures.

Area-wise, the number of highly dangerous buildings includes: D Ward (8), G North (8), H West (22), K West (18), K East (11), Kurla (8), Ghatkopar (11), P North (11), P South (8), and R Central (9). Smaller numbers were reported in B Ward (1), C Ward (1), M West (1), A Ward (3), Bhandup (4), and Mulund (4).

For the unversed, buildings in Mumbai are categorized based on their condition: C-1 structures are deemed most dangerous, C-2 buildings require major repairs, and C-3 buildings need minor fixes. As per regulations, residents of C-1 buildings are served notices and must vacate within seven days.