The Defence ministry has issued an immediate halt to construction projects near defence establishments without necessary approvals.
“There are 120+ projects in Malad-Kandivli alone at various stages of construction. Also, at least 50 more are in the pipeline, with some even razed,” said Yomesh Rao, president of Practising Engineers, Architects & Town Planners Association (India). “This uncertainty has been lingering for more than 16 years now. In January 2023, the defence ministry announced significant relief for civilians living near naval installations across India, including Mumbai, by reducing the restricted construction zone from 500 metres to 50 metres.
Rao said the fallout would be severe for both builders and families who have already booked homes in these projects. Nobody seems to be sure what exactly is needed and what exactly needs to be done,” he said. It also asked authorities to ensure that the defence ministry’s NOC guidelines are followed “in the larger interest of safeguarding the security concerns of the armed forces”.
MUMBAI: Defence ministry has ordered an immediate halt to all construction projects near defence establishments, even if cleared by BMC or other govt agencies, if the local military authority’s no-objection certificate (NOC) has not been obtained, reports Nauzer K Bharucha. The order has shaken the city’s real estate sector, particularly in suburban belts located close to ordnance depots. Industry sources warned the decision could stall dozens of ongoing developments and deepen uncertainty that has persisted for years for homebuyers and developers. The communication instructed that construction on projects granted approvals without the local military authority’s NOC should be stopped immediately. Rules governing construction near defence installations have shifted repeatedly. That relaxation, however, was later kept in abeyance, reviving uncertainty over redevelopment and new construction in affected areas.
On Wednesday, the state urban development department (UDD) wrote to the BMC commissioner, asking the civic body to implement the defence ministry’s directive.
