Maharashtra’s Demolition Blitz: Over 26,000 Illegal Structures Identified, Just 13% Razed in 5 Years
Unauthorised buildings rise unchecked across Thane, Pune, Navi Mumbai, and KDMC; only 3,470 demolished despite 23,397 pending notices
Over five years, Maharashtra has faced a seismic reckoning with its urban landscape. From Aurangabad to Andheri, a staggering 26,867 illegal buildings have been identified across the state between 2020 and 2025 — yet only 3,470 structures have been demolished, revealing systemic inertia, legal wrangles, and political interference in dealing with unauthorised construction.
This explosive data is part of a multi-source verified report authored by Dr. Danish Lambe of YIIPPEE News Network, compiling court directives, civic data, field investigations, and press records from trusted platforms like The Times of India, Indian Express, Pune Mirror, Economic Times Realty and others.
THANE (MUMBRA–DIVA): 909 ILLEGAL BUILDINGS; FIRs AGAINST 44 BUILDERS
In Thane’s Mumbra–Diva division, 909 illegal structures were identified, of which 175 were fully demolished, and 52 partially razed. Municipal authorities also cut water and electricity supply to 275 structures and sealed 89 borewells. A significant High Court order in June 2025 ordered the razing of 17 multi-storey buildings near Shil–Daighar — 9 were razed, 3 partially dismantled, others pending.
Legal accountability intensified with 44 builders facing FIRs for land grabbing and illegal construction.
KALYAN–DOMBIVLI: FAKE RERA, ARRESTS & A HALTED DEMOLITION
Kalyan–Dombivli witnessed one of the biggest scams where 65 illegal buildings were erected using forged MahaRERA documents between 2020–22. 47 of these were demolished by 2024, but further action was stayed after political lobbying. The Samarth Complex in Dombivli made headlines when a demolition attempt in September 2025 was thwarted after residents threatened self-immolation.
So far, 15 individuals including builders and KDMC officials have been arrested, while around 6,500 families await promised rehabilitation under PMAY.
VASAI–VIRAR: ₹1,000 CRORE LAND SCAM, HC-ORDERED RAZING
In Nalasopara’s Agarwal Nagar, 41 buildings were razed in early 2025 on High Court and Supreme Court orders. Post-Ganpati festival, another 141 illegal constructions were marked for demolition.
A sprawling ₹1,000 crore land scam connected to these unauthorised constructions saw the Enforcement Directorate freeze ₹12.7 crore in assets from complicit builders and officials.
NAVI MUMBAI: OVER 6,500 STRUCTURES ILLEGAL, DEMOLITION STAYED
In a 2025 survey, 6,565 illegal buildings were found in Navi Mumbai. Notices under MRTP Act 53(1A) were served to high-rise offenders like Naivedya (14 floors) and Albela D-Wing (7 floors) in Vashi.
However, no demolitions were carried out as a ministerial stay was obtained, which is now under challenge in the Bombay High Court. Civil society groups allege deep-rooted political protection.
PUNE & PCMC: 8,114 DEMOLITIONS, BUT A FLOOD-ZONE FRAUD STALLED
Pune’s flood-prone areas saw the largest demolitions — over 8,000 illegal structures removed between 2024 and 2025 as part of PMRDA’s anti-encroachment push. The NGT (July 2024) ordered clearing of roadside encroachments and fined encroachers.
In PCMC’s River Villa project, a premium bungalow project on Indrayani River’s blue flood line, 29 illegal units were found. Despite a ₹5 crore fine and demolition order by NGT, implementation remains pending.
MUMBAI: 241 STRUCTURES ON BMC DEMOLITION LIST; 200% TAX PENALTIES
The BMC listed 241 buildings for demolition, with just 10 brought down as of October 2025. A high-profile Andheri East building was razed in April following Bombay HC orders.
In Malad, the BMC demolished 28 structures linked to a forged CTS map scam uncovered by a special investigation team (SIT). Separately, 3,343 illegal properties were fined with 200% tax penalties in lieu of immediate action.
AURANGABAD (CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR): 3,986 STRUCTURES REMOVED
As part of a 2023 anti-encroachment notification, citywide action in Aurangabad removed 3,986 unauthorised structures, including Rangar Galli’s 24 shops, and Chikalthana-Mukundwadi’s 645 illegal buildings.
The civic action aligns with broader state push on environmental and land compliance in Marathwada.
NAGPUR: 7,410 DRIVES, NEW NOTICE SOP POST SUPREME COURT ADVISORY
In Vidarbha’s Nagpur, the NMC conducted 7,410 anti-encroachment operations in just 8 months of 2023. A September 2025 SOP, following a Supreme Court order, now mandates a 15-day notice period before any demolition. This aims to balance urgency with fairness, especially in slum zones.
COASTAL & OTHER REGIONS: CRZ & FOREST ENCROACHMENT CLEAN-UP
- Raigad (Alibaug) saw 5 CRZ violation demolitions from a set of 159.
- In Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, 27 illegal resorts were flagged in a 2025 forest zone audit and face NGT oversight.
- Solapur removed 28 buildings and uncovered 70 bogus permits in 2025.
- Kolhapur issued 20 notices for riverside demolitions.
- In Wardha, Bombay HC ordered demolition of a college for breaching FSI norms by over 580%.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK SHIFTS: COURT-LED OVERSIGHT INTENSIFIES
The legal landscape is rapidly evolving:
- Supreme Court (2025) clarified 15-day mandatory notices before demolition — now implemented via Nagpur’s SOP.
- Bombay HC in the Andheri case stressed municipal officer accountability.
- The Urban Development Department now requires integration of MahaRERA with building permits, though actual implementation has lagged.
- A PMAY rehabilitation GR (Feb 2025) mandates alternative housing for evicted families.
- The monsoon demolition ban (June–Sept) continues statewide to avoid humanitarian crises during rains.
QUANTITATIVE SNAPSHOT: THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM
| Metric | Approximate Count |
|---|---|
| Identified Illegal Structures | 26,867 |
| Buildings Demolished (Full/Part) | 3,470 |
| Pending Demolition Notices | 23,397 |
| Estimated Families Affected | 2,14,960 |
Data validated through municipal reports, court judgments, and field data, confirms that barely 13% of all illegal constructions have been demolished. Over 2 lakh families face uncertainty, often without clarity on rehabilitation or legal recourse.
CONCLUSION: LEGALITY, LIVES AND THE LAG IN ACTION
Maharashtra’s demolition saga is a battle between urban legality and political laxity. While the courts and NGTs have tried to enforce compliance, municipal and political delays continue to delay justice and demolitions alike.
The roadmap ahead demands that citizens rigorously verify RERA registrations, avoid purchase in blue-line or CRZ zones, and insist on legal compliance. For now, the gap between intention and implementation remains wide — and growing.
🏷 Tags:
Real Estate News | Legal News India | Maharashtra Demolitions