Date: 16-05-2025
To,
The Assistant Municipal Commissioner
A Ward
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
134 E, Shahid Bhagatsingh Marg, Near RBI, Mumbai 400001
Sub: Response to Notice dated 07.05.2025 – Compliance Status and Request for Extension
(Capsule Lift Regularization)
Dear Sir,
This is with reference to your notice dated 07.05.2025 regarding certain observations at the premises
of Apsara Co-operative Housing Society, located at NCPA Apartments, Nariman Point, Mumbai.
We would like to respectfully inform you that the following points raised in the notice have already
been addressed:
1. Unauthorized Construction of Kitchen room and Kitchen Platform at 23rd Floor
It may kindly be known that the kitchen platform referred to in your notice was already
dismantled by us. Photographs showing the current condition are enclosed herewith for your kind
perusal.
2. Unauthorized extension of existing two lifts beyond 22nd floor in wing A and wing B respectively
by cutting existing R.C.C slab and constructing new R.C.C columns.
It may kindly be known that the columns mentioned in your notice were not added
subsequently. These columns were constructed as part of the original structure clearly shown in
the MMRDA- approved building plans (No.
MMRDAu/noTCP(P-1)/BBRS/NOC/4.322/1097/2021 dated 22.07.2021 and u/no.TCP(P-
1)BBRS/NOC/4.186/1030/2018 dated 21.05.2018) attached herewith for your kind reference.
We also wish to clarify that no slab was cut for the sake of installing the lift as stated in your
notice. The original MMRDA approval plans clearly show the elevator duct extending all the
way up to lift machine room on the 24th floor which formed the integral part of the lift structure
as well as the initial sanctioned design. Our society merely requested the elevator manufacturer
to program an additional stop on Floor 23rd in wing A & wing B, since the shaft already existed.
Since your notice, we have instructed the lift manufacturer to re-program the elevator to stop
functioning on Floor 23rd where the stop were not originally shown until such time that a
permission could be obtained for the regulatory authorities. As regards to the doors, we are
willing to board up the elevator entrances until such time that a permission is obtained for the
new openings.
3. Unauthorized construction and installation of one new lift between 22nd floor to terrace floor.
As regards to seeking permissions for the above referenced violations, we wish to apprise you of the
following proactive steps we have undertaken since your initial notice, and us seeking a 2 month
extension.
We appointed M/s. Shashi Prabhu and Associates as our architects to prepare the relevant
drawings to regularize these past violations. Drawings were prepared by them and submitted to
the Building Proposal department of the MCGM on four occasions (24/07/2024, 14/08/2024,
28/01/2024, 08/01/2025). On both occasions, the proposal was rejected on the grounds of non-
availability of the CRZ NOC, which we came to know, is a mandatory prerequisite for our plot
affected by CRZ. A copy of the both the rejection letters is enclosed for your reference.
We then appointed a qualified environmental consultant M/s. Unique Envicare Pvt. Ltd to assist
us in obtaining the required NOC from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
However, we were informed that the State Coastal Zone Management Committee responsible
for granting such permissions, is currently not constituted. In the meanwhile, our consulting
firm has prepared the necessary documentation for submission of the plans to the MOEF. As
soon as the committee is constituted, we hope to obtain the required NOC.
As soon as the NOC is obtained, our architect will submit the plans once again to the Building
Proposal department of MCGM to obtain the necessary permissions.
From the above, you will realize that we had no intentions to violate the trust you had placed in
us while granting us a 2 month extension. Unfortunately, the lack of a MOEF committee
prevented us from seeking the valid permissions.
Prayer: 1. In light of the above, we humbly request you to kindly grant us a further extension of
time to regularize the above violations only until such time that the CRZ committee is
reconstituted and the required NOC is obtained from them. We assure you of our full
cooperation.
2. In case we are unable to get the requested permissions as mentioned above, we are ready to
instruct the elevator manufacturer to de-commission the capsule lift until such time that a
permission can be obtained for its operation.
Thanking you for your understanding.
Yours faithfully,
For Apsara Co-operative Housing Society Ltd.
Mr. Sushil Vaswani
Secretary
Nariman Point,
Mumbai – 400 021
Encl.:
1. Photographs of dismantled kitchen platform
2. Copy of MMRDA-approved plan showing original columns and lift duct
3. Copy of MCGM rejection letter (for want of CRZ NOC)
4. Copy of plans to be submitted to MCGM
