No NOC, No OC: Gaondevi Market Operated By Thane Municipal Corporation Illegally Running For Over 10 Years

Thane: An alarming discovery has unveiled from Thane that the Gavdevi Market, administered by the Thane Municipal Corporation, is operating illegally. This market building, situated near the railway station, has not yet acquired an occupancy certificate (OC), and the fire department has not received a no-objection certificate (NOC). Residents of Thane have raised concerns about who will be held accountable if an accident occurs within this market building, particularly given its location in a densely populated area.

Constructed in 2014, this building features a basement parking lot, commercial spaces on the ground floor, and the Municipal Corporation's Naupada-Kopri Ward Committee office on the upper level. With the secondary registrar's office and various other offices located here, thousands of individuals visit daily; nonetheless, the building lacks an occupancy certificate (OC). The municipality has also acknowledged that it does not possess a fire NOC. According to regulations, a fire NOC cannot be issued without an AOC. The fire department is required to obtain this certificate biannually, yet it has not been secured in the past decade.

No reports have been filed, suggesting that the firefighting system in this building is currently not functioning correctly. This issue was brought to light by Congress spokesperson Rahul Pingle, who has called for a thorough verification of the market's safety and documentation, as well as an investigation into the matter, urging Municipal Commissioner Saurav Rao to take action against those responsible.

In addition to the approved plan, there has been unauthorized construction at the entrance, the eastern exit staircase, and the northern ramp of the building. Some individuals have been relocated due to unauthorized modifications of the building's entrance and exit points. Consequently, the potential for a significant accident or loss of life in the event of a fire cannot be dismissed.

The Real Estate Department has also deceived landowners provided for rehabilitation without securing the necessary permission from the City Development Department. The building owned by the Thane Municipal Corporation lacks an occupancy certificate (OC), and there has been no fire audit apart from the approved construction plan. Thus, the mismanagement of the Thane Municipal Corporation has been highlighted. Will the Commissioner take action against the officials responsible for these issues now? Rahul Pingle, spokesperson for Congress.

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