BMC has said shop owners can only return to operate their shops once the fire NOC is re-issued and they are convinced about the structural stability of the mall after assessing audit reports.
MUMBAI: The BMC over the last week demolished illegal alterations and additions, including mezzanine floors, at over 200 shops at Orchid City Centre mall in Mumbai Central.
Earlier this month, the fire brigade had also cancelled the NOC given to the mall. BMC has said shop owners can only return to operate their shops once the fire NOC is re-issued and they are convinced about the structural stability of the mall after assessing audit reports. The mall had been engulfed in a major blaze on October 22, which took 56 hours to extinguish.
"Almost all shops had constructed unauthorised mezzanine floors. The mall owners have submitted a structural audit report on Saturday. We will study that and we have also appointed our own auditor to check the structural stability of the building," said Prashant Gaikwad, assistant municipal commissioner, D Ward.
Gaikwad said shop owners won't be allowed to open the shops. "Now the fire NOC has also been revoked, so till that is restored and we don't have a go ahead from structural stability point of view, we will not let the shops open on the ground and first floors. The other two floors are anyway totally gutted," Gaikwad said.
Till 2005, the mall housed supermarkets and other retail shops. However, later the management allegedly converted the premises into smaller shops which were rented to mobile and electronic wholesalers.
The fire brigade said they had cancelled the NOC issued in 2006 for the mall to obtain part Occupation Certificate for the commercial part of the building.
https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/retail/mumbai-illegal-alterations-to-shops-in-orchid-city-centre-mall-demolished/79853966
