Ahmedabad, 24 February, 2012

The newest talk in the town in west Ahmedabad is demolition of couple of decades old Bhid bhanjan Hanuman mandir.

The mandir had grown over the years in typically Amdavad style. First, installation of small idol, then a small hut type structure over it, then pucca structure, and then gradual growth in size of the structure over the period of several years. Finally, a full scale big structure with all facilities that can accommodate couple of dozen visitors at time!

And this all on a footpath of one of the most busy roads. A road that connects Panjarapol Char rasta – AMA – IIM to IIM cross road – Vastrapur lake.

This mandir was located on left lane of footpath just next to IIMA wall. It was clearly an obstruction to busy traffic.

The AMC team arrived at the spot at 11.00 pm yesterday late in the evening and started demolition. The task continued for hours throughout the night and was completed by 5.30 am.

The owner of the mandir, Munna Shah from nearby Vastrapur gam said that the AMC had informed him about proposed demolition some time back, but had promised that around 5.5 ft structure of mandir would be allowed.

“I agreed to their plan, but it seems their plan changed suddenly, and they demolished the whole structure,” Shah told DeshGujarat.

“I was not ready to uproot the murthy of Hanumanji, I refused, so AMC staffers did that job. I am going to install Shri Hanumanji murthy exactly at the place where it was earlier. It’s on footpath side, just touching the IIMA wall, so it will not obstruct the traffic any more,” he further added.

When DeshGujarat team reached the venue early in the morning, some regular joggers familiar with this road curiously inquired about the absence of entire temple which was till yesterday evening standing there. Some were too surprised to learn that the structure is no more.

“I apreciate this task performed by the AMC, but will be happier if they can do the same in Muslim areas also where dargahs are on road,” said Paresh Shah, a morning jogger.

“The AMC has demolished this mandir because they are going to build an over bridge connecting IIMA old campus gate to Vastrapur gam. I think this mandir structure had to go therefore,’ said Krishnaben Patel, a local woman who lives nearby. She added that other footpath-side structures should also be removed.

“It is sad that the authority has demolished the mandir that I used to visit daily in the morning, and on every Saturday in evening too,” said Paresh Trivedi.

The latest demolition is one more to credit of present AMC Commissioner. Earlier the central demolition unit set up by him had removed an obstructing structure on the corner of Ellis-bridge in similar night operation.