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Civic chief orders demolition of century-old Fort building

The court has stayed the decision for three weeks to allow the tenants, who are opposed to demolition, challenge the commissioner's order.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to pull down a century-old dilapidated building, owned by LIC, on Dr DN Road at Fort, considering the safety of the public at large. The civic body disclosed this in the Bombay high court on Thursday.

The court has stayed the decision for three weeks to allow the tenants, who are opposed to demolition, challenge the commissioner's order.

The decision to demolish the three-storey structure, formerly known as the General Assurance Company building, was taken on Tuesday by the municipal commissioner, who used his discretionary powers to overrule the recommendations of the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee.

While the heritage committee had advised that the premises be repaired and restored, the civic chief's order noted that the demolition should be carried out under the guidance of the heritage panel so that important objects can be salvaged and used when the building is redeveloped.

For several years, building owner LIC and its tenants have been caught in a legal wrangle over its redevelopment. LIC wants to raze the building and construct a new structure on the plot, while the tenants want it to be restored.

During the last hearing, a division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice C V Bhadang had told the civic commissioner to apply his mind and take a call on whether to override the heritage committee's recommendation and demolish it or barricade the entire structure and surroundings.

The bench had said "The disputes between the parties involved LIC the owners of the building and tenants can continue but what if the building collapses and passer-by on the busy DN road are injured. It is a dangerous building as per the report of VJTI institute submitted before the court."

Meanwhile, the bench allowed the tenants to challenge the BMC commissioner's order as their petition for repair and restoration is pending before the court. The HC stayed the order with regard to demolition for three weeks to let the tenants to make necessary amendments to their petition.

The brick-and-stone structure, which was constructed in 1908, housed offices of companies like Bisleri, the National Insurance Corporation, Western India Typewriter Co and the Hornby Commercial College. Few years ago, following heavy rains, a portion of the ceiling collapsed and all the tenants were evacuated.

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