Mega demolition drive clears 350 huts on railway land in Rajkot

The Rajkot Municipal Corporation and the Indian Railways on Monday launched a large-scale demolition drive to clear encroachments from government land in the western part of the city.

Early in the morning, the authorities began the operation to remove encroachments near the CDS Bipin Rawat underbridge, which spread over five acres of railway land.

Officials said more than 350 huts that had existed for years near the Laxmi Nagar Underbridge were being demolished as part of the drive.

During the operation, heated arguments and minor scuffles were reported between residents and officials as the demolition teams moved in. To maintain law and order, more than 400 police personnel from the Railway Protection Force, Malviyanagar Police Station and the Rajkot Crime Branch were deployed in the area.

Authorities said the demolition drive had been planned, and the site was divided into seven zones for the operation. Nearly 87,000 square metres of encroached land is being cleared.

Officials said the action was being taken to facilitate riverfront development along the Aji River and to open a town planning (TP) road along the riverbank.

A large team of senior officials, engineers, supervisors and field staff carried out the drive with the help of JCB machines and other equipment.

Many residents who lost their homes expressed anger over the demolition. However, officials said the removal of encroachments was necessary for implementing government development projects and town planning schemes.

Police continued patrolling in the area to prevent any protests or disturbances during the operation, officials added.