Mumbai: “Don’t underestimate the power of a common man.” This is how the residents of Bandra reacted as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation finally demolished the illegal ramp outside actor Shah Rukh Khan’s “Mannat” bungalow on Saturday.

Now that the ramp had been demolished, the BMC should initiate action against the actor under the Maharashtra Region and Town Planning Act, he added.

The civic body had been dilly-dallying on the issue for the last few years, and its action brought much cheer amongst residents, who celebrated the occasion by distributing sweets and bursting firecrackers. “It’s a major victory for the common people,” said local resident and civic activist Nicholas Almeida from the Watchdog Foundation. “The ramp was causing huge inconvenience to locals, blocking the entire road, but the actor just did not bother about it. He did not even pay heed to BMC’s notice asking him to demolish the ramp.”

Now that the ramp had been demolished, the BMC should initiate action against the actor under the Maharashtra Region and Town Planning Act, he added.

Congress corporator Brian Miranda also expressed satisfaction over the demolition of the ramp. “The road will finally be free from encroachment. But, it should not have taken so much time,” he said.

The BMC’s demolition drive started on Saturday at 7.30 am in the presence of police. About 35 civic staff and 40 labourers were deployed for the demolition. JCB machines were used to break the ramp, which was built with thick reinforced cement concrete slab. The drive was delayed till evening as labourers took time to break the ramp due to its hardness, said civic officials.

The BMC had asked Shah Rukh to demolish the ramp by issuing a seven-day notice, which ended on Thursday. According to civic officials, he had erected an illegal ramp on the road adjacent to his bungalow to park his vanity van. However, local residents said the ramp was proving to be an obstacle and also blocked the way to the stairs that lead to Mount Mary church from Bandstand.

“Rules are rules. Public interest should get precedence,” said a senior civic official. The total cost of ramp demolition would be recovered from the actor in the form of property tax dues. But, we had not ascertained it yet, he added.