Demolition Drive Against Illegal Encroachments in Junagadh; 22 Houses Among Structures Razed

Junagadh: The Junagadh administration and municipal corporation reclaimed government land worth approximately ₹8 crore over two days by demolishing illegal encroachments in separate drives, including a major operation in the Gandhigram area on Saturday.

On November 14, bulldozers were deployed at four locations in Gandhigram, including Sanjaynagar, Sindhi Society and Braj Vihar Society, to clear around 1,500 square metres of government land valued at ₹2 crore. The demolition at a fifth location in Virbhai Pareda was temporarily postponed on humanitarian grounds, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vrushali Kamle said.

The demolition drive began at 9 am and was carried out in compliance with a court order. According to officials, notices had been issued regarding encroachments in Gandhigram, some of which had existed for nearly a decade. The process of removing these structures had been underway for the past month.

The action followed a similar demolition drive in the Bogda area, behind Mahabat Maqbara, on Friday, during which 22 houses allegedly built illegally on government land were demolished. The operation reclaimed 1,425 square metres of government land valued at approximately ₹6 crore. Officials said some of the encroachments had been in place for 10 to 15 years.

With the two operations, the administration has reclaimed government land worth an estimated ₹8 crore over the past two days.

Mahabat Maqbara, known for its distinctive architecture and historical association with Junagadh’s Nawabi era, is one of the city’s prominent heritage landmarks. DeshGujarat