Illegal Construction Boom and Its Dangers in Vasai-Virar

The recent collapse of a building in Vasai, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, has brought the issue of illegal constructions to the forefront. Despite multiple incidents and warnings, the problem persists, threatening the safety and environment of the region.

Illegal ConstructionVasaivirarReal EstateBuilding CollapseEnvironmental ImpactReal Estate MumbaiAug 28, 2025

Illegal Construction Boom and Its Dangers in Vasai-Virar

Real Estate Mumbai:Though the collapse of a ground plus four-storey building on Thursday night in Vasai, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, has grabbed the administration’s attention, the issue of illegal construction has plagued the satellite regions of Vasai and Virar for a long time. Just two weeks ago, the former municipal commissioner of Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on a money laundering case related to illegal construction of housing units.

Prior to this, on July 4, another four-storey building at Nalasopara in MMR came crashing down. A larger disaster was averted since the local authorities were able to evacuate 70 people on time. The structure was an illegal entity constructed in the early 2010s. According to the officials of VVMC, the building that collapsed on Thursday night was also constructed in 2012—months later it was declared as illegal. Notices were sent to the builders, but they didn’t respond. Hours after the incident, the builder was booked by the authorities under the Mumbai Regional Town Planning Act.

In the past year, at least six cases of illegal building collapse were reported in the Vasai-Virar area, which is located just north of the country’s financial capital. Yet, the district is crippled with civic apathy. On August 13, the ED arrested IAS officer and former commissioner of VVMC, Anil Kumar Khanderao Pawar, YS Reddy, Deputy Director Town Planning in the corporation, and Sitaram Gupta, former corporator of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), over a money laundering case linked to 41 illegally constructed buildings in Vasai Virar. All these 41 buildings were constructed during the 2010s on public land parcels meant for civic amenities. In March this year, all these buildings were demolished by the authorities.

Of the 60 acres on which the buildings were erected, nearly 30 acres were reserved for a sewage treatment plant and dumping ground. The remaining patch was private land, allegedly grabbed by a former corporator and his accomplices. Locals and activists state that over the past two decades, haphazard construction has become so rampant that it has threatened the overall geology and topography of the area.

Vasai and Virar were largely an agrarian belt until the middle of the 2000s. The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) was formed in 1995, and starting in the early 2000s, they began demolishing unauthorized slums in Mumbai to transform them into vertical housing units. During that time, the larger area of Vasai and Virar were agrarian lands comprising paddy fields, mangrove belts, and salt pan lands. Local farmers would cultivate rice, banana, and beetle leaf on these lands.

The Vasai and Virar regions were later merged into an agglomeration in 2010 when the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) was formed. Meanwhile, the demolition of slums in Mumbai led to a real estate boom, forcing lower-income groups (LIG) to settle in Nalasopara, Naigaon, Vasai, and Virar at the west and Kalyan Dombivli in the East. Local resident and activist Yash Marwah said this real estate boom in Mumbai resulted in housing prices going up exponentially. Following this, members of the middle class started looking for houses outside the MMR region.

“In the early 2000s, private builders started taking over the agrarian land in the Vasai-Virar region, and large chunks of mangroves were gone. In exchange for money, they gave away their lands which led to a real estate boom over here,” Marwah told the Indian Express. “In Mumbai, the average price of a house is Rs 1 crore, while in the satellite region, one can get houses for Rs 30-40 lakh. This lower price of houses in this region generated a demand for housing among the LIGs and middle class,” Marwah added.

Activists also alleged that most of these constructions don’t even have NOCs from the local municipal corporation, yet they receive daily civic amenities like water and sewage services. “The building which collapsed on Thursday was located at Narangi Phatak. That place was earlier a vast green patch. Today, the entire area comprises housing units made illegally. The construction works were so rampant and fast that in less than a decade, so many buildings came up in the entire area. When the construction work was going on, nobody from the administration raised their voice or issued a notice. Had they acted on time, this wouldn’t have happened,” Shashikant Sonawane, a local resident, told the Indian Express.

Sonawane said the entire Narangi Phatak area was a paddy field until the 2010s, where rice cultivation would take place. Later, huts were constructed on them, which were later converted to four or five-storey buildings by local builders. He added that a similar model was followed across the Vasai Virar belt. “I have written multiple letters, filed petitions with the VVMC as well as the state government to inspect land grabbing and illegal encroachment on eco-sensitive zones. But till date, not much has happened. If this continues, the entire Vasai-Virar area will face major geological wrath in the days to come,” he added.

Meanwhile, scientists told the Indian Express that the collapse of the building is just the tip of the iceberg. The real issue lies in haphazard construction work and land-grabbing. Geologist and local resident Sameer Deshmukh said, “All the buildings that have collapsed were in poor condition and built during 2010-2015. These were built by reclaiming low-lying areas, which otherwise served as flood plains. These kinds of grounds are not suitable for heavy construction. As a result, most of these buildings don’t have a strong foundation and during heavy rain, their base weakens, eventually leading to their collapse.”

“Due to the reclamation of low-lying areas, all the tidal zones are gone, and no adequate room is left for drainage of rainwater. This is going to be a major hazard in the next 10 years,” he added. When contacted, an official told the Indian Express that the reason why action couldn’t be taken against most of the settlements is that these lands were taken into possession before the VVMC was formed in 2010. “Since many of them were occupied illegally, there was no documentation process earlier. After the VVMC was formed, many of them had their structures legalized through the usage of water and sewage bills. Therefore, many illegal properties were left unmarked, and they continued to inhabit residents,” the official said.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main cause of illegal constructions in Vasai-Virar?

The main cause of illegal constructions in Vasai-Virar is the real estate boom, which led to private builders taking over agrarian land and constructing buildings without proper permissions or NOCs from the local municipal corporation.

How does illegal construction affect the environment in Vasai-Virar?

Illegal construction affects the environment by disrupting the geology and topography of the area. It leads to the reclamation of low-lying areas, which serve as flood plains, and causes the loss of mangroves and other natural habitats, leading to major environmental hazards.

What are the consequences of the real estate boom in Vasai-Virar?

The real estate boom in Vasai-Virar has led to a significant increase in housing prices, forcing lower-income groups and middle-class individuals to settle in the satellite regions. It has also resulted in the conversion of agrarian land into housing units, leading to environmental degradation.

What actions have been taken by authorities to address illegal constructions?

Authorities have taken some actions, such as arresting officials involved in money laundering related to illegal constructions and demolishing some of the illegal buildings. However, the issue persists due to the lack of documentation and the legalization of some structures through water and sewage bills.

What are the potential future risks of continued illegal construction in Vasai-Virar?

Continued illegal construction in Vasai-Virar poses significant risks, including further environmental degradation, increased risk of building collapses, and major geological hazards such as flooding and land instability.