BMC clears 50k sq m in K East Ward, acquired land estimated at Rs 600 cr

To widen roads in Andheri, Vile Parle and Jogeshwari areas, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) removed illegal structures from over 50,000 sq metre areas. The cost of the acquired land is estimated at Rs 600 crore. The illegal structures were posing a hurdle for smooth flow of traffic.

Since January 2017, the ward has removed illegal structures from 12 places. For widening of Old Nagardas Road in Andheri East, the civic body removed 200 illegal structures. Similarly, the civic body had taken almost 1,200 sq metres of setback land from Hotel Sahara Star near the domestic airport in Vile Parle (East).

Devendra Kumar Jain, assistant municipal commissioner said, "The work of taking over the 1,200 sq metre plot was pending for almost 10 years." The acquired land from Hotel Sahara Star is estimated Rs 21.6 crore. Jain added that in the last two years, they have taken possession of around 59,000 sq metre land and as per the present ready reckoner, the estimated cost of the land is around Rs 699 crore. However, a majority of the land was taken over during this year.

The civic body has also planned to remove illegal structures from five more roads across the ward. While the civic officials did not provide details of the plan, illegal structures near Jogeshwari station will be taken down soon. "We have to remove all illegal structures to widen roads and provide smooth flow of traffic," said Jain.

Some of the development work was carried out after removing encroachment includes construction of cycle stand near Jogeshwari and Vile Parel station, traffic islands at Nehru Road and Malviya Road junction and beautification of island Milan Subway in Vile Parle.