A significant demolition and encroachment removal operation took place in Viramgam, Gujarat, to facilitate the expansion of State Highway No. 17 under the Viramgam-Surendranagar-Wadhwan four-lane road project. The operation covered about 4,000 square meters of both government and private land near Gangasar Lake, addressing long-standing encroachments causing traffic congestion at Viramgam’s entry point.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Virendra Desai stated that the action was carried out following legal procedures and land acquisition norms. He mentioned that the bottleneck area at the city’s entry point, which included three dargahs and various small encroachments, was acquired through the land acquisition process, with compensation provided to landowners.
The operation involved demolishing several structures, including three dargahs, five shops, and approximately 100 encroachments related to cemetery land. Heavy machinery, such as five JCB machines, two Hitachi excavators, and 15 dumpers, was deployed for the clearance work, accompanied by a substantial security presence of over 550 police personnel.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Tapan Kumar Dodiya highlighted that the objective was to eliminate obstacles hindering road widening efforts. The project, part of a significant state infrastructure initiative, had undergone months of planning and coordination between the administration, police, and community representatives to ensure a peaceful and successful operation.
Authorities confirmed that the coordinated effort resulted in the clearance of around 4,000 square meters of encroached land, aiming to enhance regional connectivity by addressing the historical bottleneck at Viramgam’s entry point. This operation follows a previous encroachment removal drive in April in the Dhandhuka area of Ahmedabad district, emphasizing the ongoing enforcement against unauthorized encroachments.
