A large-scale demolition operation commenced early Thursday morning to clear encroachments covering nearly 100,000 square meters of government land along the Sabarmati riverbank in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The initiative, coordinated by the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC), involved the state Roads and Buildings (R&B) department and local police, starting around 4 a.m. in the Pethapur area.
According to District Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, authorities identified approximately 700 illegal structures set for demolition. By Thursday afternoon, around 150 houses and shops had already been demolished. “A total of 20 teams from R&B and GMC are overseeing the drive. Nearly 700 police personnel, including officers, have been deployed to ensure law and order,” he stated during a press briefing.
Officials assessed the value of the encroached land at approximately ₹1,000 crore. The demolition operations are anticipated to last for the next two to three days, continuing until all identified structures are removed.