Ahmedabad: Over 500 fully built houses and shelters near the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera are planned to be demolished as part of a road-widening project. This project aims at the improvement of infrastructure as the city wants to host the 2036 Olympics.

The affected residents have now moved the Gujarat High Court, challenging the eviction notice. The demolition is intended to expand the main road leading to the stadium. The eviction notices ask residents of Baldevnagar and the nearby areas of Narendra Modi Stadium in Acher village, Sabarmati, to peacefully vacate their properties under Town Planning Scheme No. 23, which was finalized in 1984.

Two separate petitions were filed by Pushpaben Vania and 28 others, and by Umesh Makwana and 48 others, contesting the eviction notices issued by the Assistant Estate Officer under Section 68 of the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976.

Government counsel argued that the eviction process followed the correct legal procedures. They noted that some land from the final plot allocation is reserved for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) residents who will be provided with alternative housing.

As per the government, the draft of the Town Planning scheme was released in 1965 and finalized in 1984, making it valid for public projects. The authorities argued that the residents’ objections should be dismissed since the residents never objected to the TP scheme until 2025 despite being aware of it.

Meanwhile, the petitioners countered that they have lived in the area for 60 years and built their homes following legal procedures. The petitioners’ lawyer claimed that the TP scheme was finalized 41 years ago without consulting the residents.

After hearing all arguments, the High Court has reserved its decision. DeshGujarat