Rajkot: A major demolition drive was carried out in the Laxminagar slum area of Rajkot to remove long-standing illegal encroachments. The operation was centred around the CDS Bipin Rawat underbridge, where structures had been built on land belonging to both the Railways and the Municipal Corporation.

During the drive, authorities removed more than 350 shanties, clearing approximately five acres of encroached land. To ensure the rapid and effective removal of the structures, the Municipal Corporation deployed heavy machinery, including more than 20 JCB machines and 50 tractors.

To prevent any untoward incidents and maintain public order, heavy police security was deployed at the site. More than 400 police personnel, including teams from the City Police, the Crime Branch, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF), were present during the operation.

The clearing of the area near Bhaktinagar Railway Station is part of a larger plan for the modernisation of the station, which includes the laying of a new railway track. Officials stated that residents had been served notices on multiple occasions. While many residents complied and some vacated voluntarily, the demolition drive was required to remove the remaining illegal structures.

Authorities expected the demolition work to be completed by the evening. Municipal officials further stated that this is part of an ongoing campaign, and the drive to remove illegal encroachments from public land across the city will continue in the coming days. DeshGujarat