TMC Launches Special Task Force To Demolish Illegal Constructions In Diva-Mumbra

Civic Body Moves After High Court Rebuke; 151 Illegal Structures Identified Across Nine Wards

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has set up a special task force to crack down on the rampant illegal constructions choking the suburbs of Diva and Mumbra, where a civic survey has revealed that nearly 40% of unauthorized structures in the city are concentrated.

The move comes in the wake of a stern rebuke from the Bombay High Court, which flagged unchecked urban violations and warned civic authorities of strict action. The task force, comprising senior deputy commissioners, anti-encroachment officers, ward-level staff, and backed by police reinforcements, will begin intensified demolition drives post-Ganesh Chaturthi to avoid public unrest during the festive season.

227 Constructions Acted Upon, 24 FIRs Filed

So far, the TMC has targeted 227 unauthorized buildings and filed 24 criminal cases against builders and land mafias. The civic body clarified that while occupied buildings have been granted temporary reprieve, unoccupied or under-construction illegal sites face immediate demolition. The initiative is being coordinated under the anti-encroachment department led by Shankar Patole, with direct oversight from Commissioner Saurabh Rao.

Allegations Of Nexus Between Builders & Officials

Local politicians and activists have alleged that the growth of illegal structures is fuelled by a nexus between unscrupulous builders, civic staff, and local land mafia. NCP’s Jitendra Awhad and Congress leader Vikrant Chavan have demanded accountability not just from builders but also from municipal officials who allowed violations to proliferate. They highlighted tactics such as granting partial occupancy to shield unlawful buildings from demolition.

What It Means For Mumbai’s Suburbs

The crackdown signals a rare show of intent by TMC to reclaim urban planning discipline in an area long dominated by unauthorized tenements and haphazard construction. For residents, the action could reshape the real estate landscape of Diva and Mumbra—where genuine homebuyers are often left trapped between legal uncertainties and the lure of cheaper, unapproved housing.

This decisive step, if sustained, could set a template for other municipalities across Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), where illegal constructions continue to erode civic infrastructure and strain public amenities.