Delhi government demolishes illegal shrine to facilitate Pitampura-Shalimar Bagh road widening
New Delhi, July 14
The Delhi government on Tuesday carried out a demolition drive against an illegal shrine constructed on government land in the middle of a road as part of an ongoing road-widening project connecting Pitampura and Shalimar Bagh, according to the Chief Minister's Office.
The action was taken as part of the government's drive against illegal encroachments and to facilitate the road-widening project aimed at easing traffic movement on the key route.
According to the CMO, the Delhi government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal construction and encroachments on government land.
The road-widening work is currently underway on the main route connecting Pitampura and Shalimar Bagh, with the government stating that the project is intended to ensure a smooth and obstruction-free thoroughfare for commuters.
The demolition drive formed part of the government's broader effort to remove illegal structures that hinder public infrastructure projects and improve road connectivity in the national capital.
Meanwhile, since June 1, authorities have demolished 94 illegally constructed buildings and sealed 114 others for violations of building byelaws and safety norms.
According to the Delhi government, the enforcement drive gained momentum following the June 3 Malviya Nagar fire tragedy. Since then, 63 buildings have been demolished, with the highest single-day action taking place on June 3, when 22 structures were razed. Authorities have also sealed 97 buildings during this period, including 79 properties in a single day on June 7.
Officials from the Revenue Department inspected 124 sites across Delhi's 13 districts, taking action wherever violations were found. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and other agencies are jointly carrying out demolition, sealing and inspection drives.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has said the government is taking strict action against unauthorised construction, encroachments and violations of fire safety norms while working to establish a long-term mechanism to prevent such illegal activities.
The government is also considering introducing a third-party insurance framework for buildings and public-use establishments, under which insurance coverage would be linked to compliance with structural and safety standards.
The DDA has also strengthened enforcement against illegal construction on its land, directing officials to identify buildings with major deviations from approved plans and initiate strict action. Architects found responsible for serious violations may face blacklisting, while Flying Squads and Quick Response Teams have been asked to intensify enforcement in development and land-pooling areas.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally, some action! The Malviya Nagar fire was a wake-up call. But why only target small shrines? What about big encroachments by powerful people? This needs to be even-handed. Hope the same energy is used for all illegal properties. 😤
As someone who travels on this route daily, I am fully supporting this move. The traffic there is a nightmare, and that shrine was right in the middle. But the government should have provided an alternative location for devotees. Simply demolishing seems harsh.
Interesting to see this happening. In the US, similar issues arise with illegal structures. The zero-tolerance policy is commendable, but I wonder if they could have conducted this with more sensitivity towards religious sentiments. Still, good for infrastructure.
The 94 demolitions since June is impressive, but will this be sustained? We've seen such drives before that fizzle out. Also, linking insurance to structural compliance is a great idea. Wish they'd also focus on unauthorized parking and footpath encroachments.
This is good, but sad too. That shrine might have been there for years. People's faith matters. The government should have shown some empathy—maybe allowed devotees to relocate it themselves. Road widening is needed, but not at the cost of crushing people's emotions. 🥺
M