Action Follows Fatal Gachibowli Collapse
A seven-storey unauthorised building collapsed in Anjaiah Nagar, Gachibowli, on August 22, killing two workers.
The incident has triggered renewed scrutiny of illegal construction and enforcement failures across the Cyberabad region.
CMC Orders Identification and Demolition
CMC Commissioner G. Srijana has directed town-planning and enforcement officials to identify buildings that fall under specified categories of unauthorised construction.
The targeted structures include:
Buildings on plots below 75 square yards that exceed 7 metres in height
Buildings on plots above 75 square yards constructed without building permission
Officials have been instructed to initiate demolition wherever the rules warrant such action.
Action to Follow Complaints or Field Detection
The civic body said enforcement should not depend solely on citizen complaints.
Structures can be identified either through public complaints or through suo motu detection by field teams.
Officials have also been directed to monitor the number of demolitions on a daily basis to ensure continuous enforcement and accountability.
38 Unauthorised Structures Identified
In the latest enforcement drive, CMC teams have identified 38 unauthorised under-construction buildings.
Officials reportedly issued notices to 28 structures, seized one building and demolished nine structures as part of the action.
Another Building Demolished in Gachibowli
A second seven-storey building located next to the collapsed structure was also found to have suffered serious damage.
Following a joint inspection, HYDRAA and CMC officials decided that the damaged building posed a collapse risk and ordered its demolition. A high-reach machine known as ‘Bahubali’ was deployed for the operation.
Serious Building Violations
Officials said the collapsed building had been constructed on a plot of only about 50 square yards and had reached seven storeys.
Preliminary findings indicated serious violations, including construction beyond approved limits and alleged encroachment into a stormwater drain.
Notice Had Been Issued Earlier
Reports indicate that the CMC Town Planning Section had issued a show-cause notice and subsequent orders on June 17 concerning the unauthorised construction.
Despite the action, construction continued and the building eventually collapsed on August 22. The episode has raised questions about enforcement and monitoring by civic officials.
Police Case and Arrest
Police have registered a criminal case in connection with the collapse.
One of the accused, Mohammed Sajid, was taken into custody, while police were also looking for a contractor allegedly involved in the construction.
According to a later report, Sajid was arrested at Hyderabad International Airport while allegedly attempting to leave the country.
Focus on Preventing Future Disasters
The latest enforcement drive represents a shift towards identifying unsafe structures before they result in accidents.
Authorities are seeking to detect violations during construction rather than waiting until buildings become structurally dangerous.
Conclusion
The Gachibowli building collapse has triggered a major crackdown on unauthorised construction across Cyberabad.
The CMC has ordered officials to identify and demolish specified illegal under-construction buildings, while HYDRAA and CMC teams have already begun removing structures considered unsafe.
With dozens of unauthorised buildings now identified, the enforcement drive could significantly intensify scrutiny of building-rule violations across the Cyberabad region.
