AMC carries out third phase of demolition at Ahmedabad’s Chandola, religious structures razed

Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) launched yet another round of a large-scale demolition drive at Chandola area on Wednesday morning, targeting illegal encroachments, including four religious structures.

According to officials, they demolished Gareeb Nawaz Mosque, Hanumanji Temple, Dashama Temple, and another unnamed religious site. Heavy machinery, including JCBs and Hitachi excavators, were brought in early in the day to carry out the demolitions.

A large police presence was deployed to the site to prevent any potential unrest, with officers from the Crime Branch, senior local officials, and multiple State Reserve Police (SRP) teams stationed in the area. Authorities removed religious artifacts and materials from the structures before proceeding with the demolitions.

Officials said the operation was conducted with the consent of the local residents, and no protests were reported. 

In contrast to earlier phases, where tensions had rose over the removal of religious sites, this time residents reportedly cooperated following assurances and communication from the administration.

The demolition is part of an ongoing campaign to clear illegal constructions around Chandola Lake. During the first round of the second phase on May 20, officials had demolished nine mosques, removing a significant portion of unauthorised structures in the region.

So far, the second phase of the drive has cleared an estimated 2.5 lakh square meters of encroached land. Over 3,000 police personnel, including 25 SRP teams, have been deployed to support the effort and maintain law and order throughout the operation.

AMC stated that debris removal and the construction of boundary walls would be completed promptly to prevent further encroachments in the cleared areas.