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AMC Demolishes 450 Illegal Structures Near Vatva Lake in Major Drive

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation conducted a large-scale demolition drive, removing approximately 450 illegal residential and commercial structures encroaching on a lake in the Vatva Extension area. The operation involved a significant police force and drone surveillance to ensure a peaceful process without resistance. Separately, the Gujarat administration is piloting an AI-based solution in Ahmedabad to tackle stray cattle by using CCTV and deep learning models to identify animals and trace owners in real-time. This initiative is part of a broader push to integrate advanced technology, like the AI Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar, into urban governance and citizen services.

Key Points: Ahmedabad: AMC Clears 450 Illegal Encroachments Near Vatva Lake

  • 450 illegal structures demolished
  • Major police deployment for drive
  • Drone surveillance used
  • AI pilot for stray cattle management
2 min read

Ahmedabad: AMC clears encroachments near Vatva lake, demolishes around 450 illegal structures

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation demolishes 450 illegal structures near Vatva lake in a major anti-encroachment drive using heavy police and drone surveillance.

"The demolition process remained peaceful, with no resistance reported. - DCP Bhagirath T Gadhvi"

Ahmedabad, January 20

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Tuesday carried out a major demolition drive against illegal constructions in the Vatva Extension area of the city, targeting encroachments around a lake near the Vatva police station.

According to Zone-6 Deputy Commissioner of Police Bhagirath T Gadhvi, the operation focused on removing unauthorised residential structures and commercial shops built around the lake. He said approximately 450 illegal constructions were identified, and action was initiated to clear them.

A large police deployment was made to ensure the smooth conduct of the drive. The security arrangement included one DCP, one ACP, 11 Police Inspectors, 21 Police Sub-Inspectors, and more than 350 police personnel. Drone surveillance was also used to monitor the situation and maintain law and order during the operation.

DCP Gadhvi said that the demolition process remained peaceful, with no resistance reported. He added that police officials maintained direct communication with the affected people, which helped prevent any untoward incidents.

Earlier, the Gujarat government is prioritising modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop Gujarat's cities as smart urban centres. Following the establishment of the AI Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar, efforts are underway to strengthen citizen service delivery by integrating advanced technology into state administration.

Moving forward in this approach, a key pilot project has been initiated in the expanding Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation area, aiming to address problems caused by stray cattle.Stray cows often lead to traffic-related issues in Ahmedabad.

Currently, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation teams capture photographs of stray cattle in different areas through CCTV and identify them through microchips and RFID tags. Since officials carry out this process manually, it consumes considerable time and effort, according to an official release.T

o resolve this, the administration has begun introducing AI-based solutions to speed up identification and reduce the time and effort involved. The AI Centre of Excellence at GIFT City in Gandhinagar has assigned an agency to develop an AI model. The agency has proposed solutions based on a deep learning model and will soon present the developed model before the steering committee. This model will integrate images captured through CCTV cameras to identify cows and trace their owners in real time.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
While clearing encroachments is necessary, my heart goes out to the 450 families/businesses displaced. Where will they go now? The article mentions communication was maintained, but I hope rehabilitation was also part of the plan. We can't just demolish without providing alternatives.
V
Vikram M
Good to see the use of drone surveillance and a large police force to ensure it was peaceful. Often these drives lead to clashes. The focus on tech for city management is impressive too – from clearing lakes to tracking stray cattle with AI. Gujarat is moving forward! 💪
A
Anjali F
The AI project for stray cattle is a classic example of a high-tech solution for a problem that needs basic civic sense and enforcement. Why do cattle owners let them roam in the first place? Fine them heavily. Tech is good, but fixing the root cause is better.
D
David E
Interesting read. The scale of the operation is massive - 350 police personnel! It shows how serious the encroachment issue was. Integrating AI for urban management seems like a smart step. Hope other Indian cities learn from Ahmedabad's approach.
K
Karthik V
Protecting our water bodies is crucial. These illegal structures not only pollute the lake but also block natural drainage, worsening floods during monsoon. This drive should have happened years ago. Now, please do the same for other lakes in the city.

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