City revenue authorities took possession of over 80,000 square metres of land in Motera on Friday, next to the Narendra Modi Stadium and Sardar Patel Sports Complex, to pave the way for future Olympic infrastructure.
According to a media report, the land, originally allotted to the Bhartiya Seva Samaj trust in 1964, had reportedly fallen into disuse and violated the original allotment terms. During a Gujarat High Court hearing, the state government stated that the trust had breached the conditions of allocation. The case was initiated by a petition from the trust itself.
As part of the takeover, seven elderly residents from an on-site care home will be relocated to alternate housing. Government Pleader GH Virk informed Justice Aniruddha Mayee that all legal procedures had been followed before reclaiming the land. The dispensary and Kanya Chhatralaya located on the premises were also found unused.
Virk defended the move, stating that it was done in the “larger public and national interest.” However, the trust’s legal counsel challenged the demolition of existing structures. The court has asked Virk to submit an affidavit outlining the latest developments. The hearing is scheduled to continue on June 26.
Background
The Bhartiya Seva Samaj acquired the land through a registered sale deed in 1964, and had run activities based on the teachings of Swami Krishnanand Saraswati, focusing on Indian culture, education, and care for the elderly and disabled. In 2023, the District Collector issued a breach notice. Although the trust expressed willingness to relocate if provided an alternative plot, the two locations offered by the government were deemed unsuitable for their work.
Ties to Olympic Dreams
The land reclamation is part of Gujarat’s broader ambition to host global sporting events. A government delegation led by Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi recently visited London to pitch Ahmedabad as a host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and lay the foundation for a 2036 Olympic bid.
Gujarat’s expression of interest for the Commonwealth Games was officially submitted on March 13, with All-India Commonwealth Games Association president P.T. Usha presenting the bid. The proposal highlights the state’s existing sports infrastructure, including the Karai athletics stadium, IIT Gandhinagar, an aquatics centre, and the Narendra Modi Stadium.