The Jamnagar Municipal Corporation (JMC) has started a major demolition drive to widen the road near Swaminarayan Nagar, officials said. The work began on Saturday and continued on Sunday, focusing on removing illegal structures along the 3.5-kilometre stretch.
Despite strong opposition, the civic body stayed firm and took action against 111 properties on the first day. The demolition work continued smoothly on Sunday for the second day in a row. Over 150 municipal workers, supported by more than 100 police officers — including female staff — and heavy machines were on-site, all under the supervision of Police Inspector P P Jha from the City B Division.
The demolition work started at 8 am on Sunday and went on peacefully all day. A total of 331 property owners along the road from Swaminarayan Nagar to Nawagam Ghed had received final notices from the JMC before the demolition began. While there were loud protests and resistance on the first day, the authorities kept the situation under control.
On May 31, 10 people — including Congress Councillor Rachna Nandaniya and two women — were detained for trying to stop the demolition. They were brought before the city mamlatdar on Sunday evening and were given bail on the condition that they would not interfere again. Despite the earlier tension, the demolition work on Sunday went on without any problems, and over 100 more properties were marked to be cleared.
The JMC said that widening the road is an important part of improving the city’s infrastructure in the long run.
At the same time, in Ahmedabad, the municipal corporation is also running a large demolition drive in different areas to remove illegal buildings and carry out delayed development plans. Places like Narol, Vatva, Chandlodia, and parts of the old city have seen more activity, as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is targeting illegal structures that have been blocking road widening, drainage work, and other civic projects.
The demolition drive, which began earlier this month, has led to the removal of hundreds of makeshift shops, illegal extensions of residential and commercial properties, and encroached pavements.
In several cases, prior notices were issued to occupants, with the civic body emphasising that the demolitions are part of planned urban development under the town planning schemes and Smart City Mission.