Bombay High Court Slams BMC Over Road Encroachments, Calls Situation ‘Serious’

The court said, "If illegal constructions are not stopped, in the future, people will be forced to use only two-wheelers, bicycles, or horses as the roads will be encroached upon by encroachers."

These remarks were made while hearing a petition filed by a school, which expressed concern over the inaction of the BMC in dealing with encroachments around the school in suburban Powai.

The bench asked civil officials how it was possible for illegal constructions to be built on the road, and it directed the concerned suburban commissioner to be present in court on Friday.

The court questioned whether the civic body was so helpless that it could not take action against encroachments.

It appears that the BMC lacks the will, courage, or resources to remove such encroachments. The bench expressed surprise that the BMC had provided drinking water supply and temporary toilet facilities on a road encroached by encroachers in Powai.

The court said, "Everywhere, only one or two lanes are left on the roads, and then there is a traffic jam. Vehicles cannot move...one person walks faster than the vehicles stuck in the jam."

The court said that people have limited time on this earth and every individual should strive to leave the environment and the city such that the next generation can benefit from it.

BMC lawyer Dhriti Kapadia assured the court that she would submit an affidavit specifying the timeframe within which the encroachments specified in the petition would be removed.