Why does it take so long for BMC to demolish illegal constructions?

Over 10 years, 2,14,917 complaints were registered on the RETMS portal; 1,16,228 marked as duplicates, leaving 98,689 actual complaints. Demolition completed in just 13,211 cases. An RTI has exposed the shocking state of BMC’s functioning.

While the Maharashtra government dreams of transforming Mumbai into Shanghai, shocking revelations through the Right to Information (RTI) Act suggest that the functioning of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is undermining this vision. 

With the problem of illegal constructions in Mumbai becoming increasingly serious, questions have been raised over the effectiveness of the civic body’s online RETMS complaint system, which was introduced to facilitate action against such structures.

Tragedies involving illegal constructions, including the Kamala Mills compound fire, Bhanu Farsan Mart fire, Hotel City Kinara fire, the Hussaini building collapse in Bhendi Bazaar and the Sai Siddhi building collapse in Ghatkopar, have claimed several lives. These incidents have once again highlighted the importance of taking timely action against unauthorised structures.

To enable citizens to lodge complaints against illegal constructions, the BMC introduced its online RETMS complaint system on March 1, 2016.

RTI activist Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh had sought information from the Encroachment and Removal Department, Eastern Suburbs, regarding complaints registered on the system, notices issued and demolition action taken. The information provided by the Public Information Officer and Assistant Engineer (Encroachment Removal), Eastern Suburbs, has brought the civic body’s functioning under scrutiny.

1,16,228 out of 2,14,917 complaints marked as duplicates

According to the Wardwise Details Summary Count Report prepared by the BMC on October 26, 2026, a total of 2,14,917 complaints were registered on the RETMS portal between March 1, 2016, and October 26, 2026.

Of these, as many as 1,16,228 complaints were declared duplicates, leaving 98,689 actual complaints, as per the report.

The figures relating to demolition action are even more alarming. Compared to the total number of complaints registered, demolition was completed in only 13,211 cases, accounting for approximately 6.15 per cent.

Notably, out of the total 2,14,917 complaints, 1,16,228 were classified as duplicates. Transparency is required regarding the criteria used to classify complaints as duplicates, the verification process followed and whether the concerned complainants were informed about the classification.

Similarly, while the report states that demolition is required in 29,916 cases, actual demolition has been completed in only 13,211 cases. The administration needs to make public the current status of all cases requiring demolition and the action taken in the remaining cases.

Top five wards: Complaints versus demolition action

1. L Ward: 30,935 complaints; only 637 demolition actions
2. K/East Ward: 24,064 complaints; only 1,325 demolition actions
3. M/East Ward: 14,510 complaints; only 159 demolition actions
4. P/South Ward: 14,424 complaints; only 1,932 demolition actions
5. K/West Ward: 11,433 complaints; only 1,683 demolition actions.

Crores spent every year, yet illegal constructions continue to flourish?

According to RTI activist Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh, the BMC’s Building and Factory Department spends approximately Rs 50 crore annually on action against illegal constructions, police protection and other administrative resources. He also claimed that more than 15,000 notices are issued every year.

However, with the proportion of actual demolition action remaining extremely low, the expenditure and the results achieved need to be made public.

Shaikh has also alleged that in certain cases, only paperwork or what he termed “bogus action” is being carried out.