Mumbai Residents Urge Speedy Approval of Occupation Certificate for High-Rise Floors
Residents of the Willingdon View housing society in Tardeo, Mumbai, urge Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BMC officials to expedite the approval of the Occupation Certificate (OC) for the top 18 floors of their 34-storey building.
MumbaiOccupation CertificateWillingdon ViewHigh CourtBmcReal Estate MumbaiAug 28, 2025
Assistant Municipal Commissioner of D ward Manish Walunju said each floor has two flats, with some having amalgamated them as well. 'Based on the HC directive, we checked if the residents vacated the top 18 floors. Thirty-four flat occupants have vacated,' he said.
When TOI visited the premises on Thursday afternoon, the situation at the residential complex was tense. While some residents complied and moved out, others continued to stay put in the lobby area. 'Some have moved in with their relatives, others aren't sure where to move out,' said a resident.
Lodha told TOI that the society members said they were willing to pay the penalty for the delay up to the date of issuance of the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC), but claimed that despite fulfilling fire safety requirements, the process was being unnecessarily prolonged. 'The residents were being 'harassed' by the fire department despite complying with the norms. During our meeting with the chief minister, he ordered immediate action and directed the department concerned to issue an OC. The CM has come to the help of residents, and we are thankful to him,' said Lodha, who also sat in protest at the BMC headquarters.
The chairman of the society, Narendra Bhandari, said, 'We have complied with the court orders and vacated the premises. We are hoping that justice will be done to us.' A petition was filed by Willingdon resident Sunil Jhaveri alleging gross illegalities with no fire NOC and only part OC for floors 1-16. BMC flagged illegalities in the construction of floors 17-34. On July 15, the High Court directed occupants of floors 17-34 to vacate within two weeks. On Aug 1, the Supreme Court upheld this order. On Aug 6, the High Court granted a further three weeks' time to vacate by Aug 27 and sought an undertaking from the affected residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Occupation Certificate (OC)?
The Occupation Certificate (OC) is a document issued by the municipal corporation that certifies a building is safe for occupation and meets all legal and safety requirements.
Why did the residents have to vacate the top 18 floors?
The residents were asked to vacate the top 18 floors because these floors did not have an Occupation Certificate (OC), and the Bombay High Court had issued a deadline for their evacuation.
Who led the residents in their appeal to the Chief Minister?
Local MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha led the residents in their appeal to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.
What did the residents claim about the fire department's actions?
The residents claimed that they were being 'harassed' by the fire department despite complying with the fire safety norms and fulfilling the necessary requirements.
What action did the Chief Minister take after the meeting?
The Chief Minister ordered immediate action and directed the department concerned to issue the Occupation Certificate (OC) for the top 18 floors of the Willingdon View building.
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