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Authorities in Bahiyal village, Gandhinagar district, demolished 178 out of 186 illegal commercial properties earlier this week, temporarily sparing eight structures pending High Court decisions. The large-scale operation involved around 800 personnel from the Gandhinagar civic administration, district police, and the state Roads and Buildings Department. Officials clarified that the demolition was unrelated to the communal clashes that occurred during Navratri last month, which had involved property damage and arrests. The drive targeted encroachments on the Right of Way along two main roads and was part of an ongoing plan to regulate illegal constructions.
A demolition action was conducted in Bahiyal village, Dahegam taluka, Gandhinagar, earlier this week, with 178 out of 186 illegal commercial units being razed. The remaining eight properties were temporarily spared as their owners had approached the High Court seeking relief. The operation began at 4 am, with nearly 800 personnel from the Gandhinagar civic administration, district police, and the state Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department involved in the exercise. Advertisement
The structures targeted were primarily shops identified as encroachments on the Right of Way (ROW) along two major roads in the village. Officials highlighted that this drive was part of a long-standing plan to remove illegal constructions, which had initially been proposed last year but delayed due to inaction by the Gram Panchayat. The survey of encroachments was conducted in early October, shortly after the communal clashes that had erupted during Navratri following a social media argument.
The clashes, which involved over 200 people, resulted in damage to shops and vehicles, with stones being thrown and arrests made on charges including rioting, unlawful assembly, and arson. Around 61 individuals were taken into custody, while state police and reserve forces worked to restore order.
Gandhinagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Parth Kotadiya, overseeing the demolition, confirmed that all affected properties had received notices from the R&B Department and documentation was sought before the operation.
Officials stressed that the operation had no connection to the earlier communal clashes, emphasizing that it was strictly a regulatory measure to maintain public infrastructure and ensure compliance with urban planning norms.
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