Authorities mark renovated tram station for demolition

DEHRADUN: As part of the ongoing demolition drive in the city, the civic authorities have marked almost a century-old tram station in Dilaram Bazaar as ‘encroachment’. The heritage building that now houses power corporation’s office was recently renovated and flex panel were put up by the corporation.
However, officials involved in the drive clarified that the entire structure has not been declared an encroachment but only the renovated part.“The station as such is not an encroachment and no damage will be done to the heritage structure but during renovation, flex panels were installed with a width of almost two feet and that has been marked for demolition,” said SDM Pratyush Singh.
Interestingly, the heritage lovers of the city had even back them protested the move to install the flex panels and termed it defacement of the city. “We had protested the move earlier as well. But the authorities continued with the renovation. Now that the flex panels will be removed is a welcome step,” said heritage expert Lokesh Ohri.
“Structures like these maintain the character of the city and reflect its colonial past. These should be preserved in their original shape,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the seventh day of the drive on Wednesday, demolitions were carried out at Chakrata Road, Haridwar Road and Dallanwala.
Around 651 workers demolished 144 structures, 1,643 workers marked 243 building for demolition and 75 workers sealed three buildings on Wednesday. Additional chief secretary Om Prakash said now the marking and demolishing process will speed up and the court’s order will be implemented in time.
Earlier in the day, CM Trivendra Rawat also held a meeting with officials involved in the demolition drive and said that the widening and beautification of road should be done on top priority.