Mumbai: BMC Launches Borivali Demolition Drive After Supreme Court Withholds Commissioner Ashwini Bhide's Salary

Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) initiated a major demolition operation in Borivali on Wednesday, targeting illegal structures on a 3,400-square-meter plot reserved for the BEST bus station. This move came after the Supreme Court (SC) withheld Commissioner Ashwini Bhide's salary for non-compliance with court directives.

The SC instructed Bhide to explain why she should not face contempt proceedings for failing to adhere to its earlier orders. The demolition, which involved 70 personnel and heavy machinery, was carried out around 7 am, with a significant police presence to ensure safety. Despite repeated warnings over the past weeks, shop owners failed to clear the encroachments, leading to the eviction.

The incident has sparked criticism from corporators, who accused the BMC's Legal Department of negligence and failure to keep the Municipal Commissioner informed about the developments. The Borivali plot has been embroiled in legal disputes since 1986, with the Supreme Court ordering the BMC to take possession and remove illegal structures within three months, with the BEST bus station operational by year-end.