The encroached plot was reserved for a playground and garden.

According to Vijay Kalam-Patil, who heads the anti-encroachment cell of the CIDCO, some 13 structures had come up on the plot in Sector 36 near Karave village of Navi Mumbai around 15 days ago. More than 200 CIDCO officials and workers demolished the structures with the help of 62 Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) employees amid tight security—136 personnel from the Navi Mumbai Police and the State Reserve Police Force were deployed for the drive.

The Palm Beach Road, known as the ‘Marine Drive of Navi Mumbai’, is one of the costliest areas in the Navi Mumbai with sky rocketing realty rates.

“Some 70 rooms were being constructed on the plot measuring 19,400 square metres for the last two weeks. The encroachers had also started roofing of these houses when the CIDCO demolished them,” said Kalam-Patil.

Patil said that the rooms could have been made by professional developers with the help of local residents.

“The plot, which was reserved for a playground and garden, would be now handed over to the NMMC,” said Patil.

“For now, we have fenced the entire area so that no encroachment takes place in future,” he said.