Vadodara: The city civic body today launched the operation to demolish the illegal encroachment by the Agora Mall near the Vishwamitri River in the city. As part of this operation, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is razing the three-story clubhouse of Agora Mall, built in a 3,000 square foot area. Six JCB machines are being used in the operation that began today.

In the aftermath of the floods that submerged the city of Vadodara in August, the city’s civic body issued notices to 10 entities for encroaching on public land on September 24th. The VMC had given a 72-hour ultimatum to these entities to respond to the notices, stating that constructions made without leaving the required margin would be demolished.

Today, as the 72-hour ultimatum expired, the VMC team began the demolition operation this morning at the Agora Mall located on Mangal Pandey Road, which had encroached upon the riverbank by building a clubhouse and a retaining wall. Meanwhile, another team began work to remove encroachments from other areas. During the removal of the clubhouse of the Agora Mall on Mangal Pandey Road, motorists stopped their vehicles to watch the municipality’s work. Additionally, some residents from the surrounding area came out to observe the operation.

People gathered near Agora Mall commented that if the Vadodara Corporation had undertaken this work earlier, the city might not have been submerged during the floods. However, they welcomed the work that commenced today, reflecting the sentiment of “Der Aye Durust Aye.” DeshGujarat