Mumbai's Malabar Hill area is witnessing tensions over the ongoing construction work along Walkeshwar Road, following concerns raised by local residents regarding the shrinking of the road's width. On April 26, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a stop-work notice to architect Preeti Kashyap Barai and developer Dilip Chunilal Chandan for unauthorised construction at a plot located along the road.

The notice was served after the BMC’s D ward office flagged issues with the construction, stating that the commencement certificate had not been properly endorsed according to the last amended plans. The notice directs the builder to halt work until further orders from the building proposal department, which is investigating the reduction in road length (RL) along Walkeshwar Road.

The ward office has given the architect and developer 24 hours to submit the required permissions for the construction. If the work proceeds without the proper approvals, the BMC warned that the construction materials and machinery will be removed, and police will be asked to ensure compliance.

Local residents, led by architect Jashwant Mehta, have been vocal about the narrowing of Walkeshwar Road, pointing out that its width has decreased over time from its originally prescribed measurement of 27.5 meters. Mehta, who has lived in the area for years, emphasised the ongoing struggle to widen the road, which currently varies between 13 to 16 meters, and the lack of functional footpaths along the stretch. He stressed the long-standing effort to restore the road to its prescribed width, which has faced no action from the municipal corporation for over five decades.

While the building proposal department continues its investigation, the stop-work notice remains in effect until the issue is resolved.