Civic body tears down 124 illegal structures to pave way for Master Plan road

Indore: The Indore Municipal Corporation on Friday launched a massive demolition drive in Chhawani area to widen a key road under the city’s Master Plan. A heavy police force alongside earthmovers was deployed to raze structures identified as encroachments.

The drive is part of a broader city-wide initiative to free public footpaths, clear unauthorised stalls and seize illegally parked vehicles to ensure smooth traffic and pedestrian movement.

The removal squad was mobilised early in the morning, with the drive targeting homes and structures that fall within the proposed road alignment. Residents were served prior notices by the corporation before the action was initiated, officials claimed.

An official release said around 124 structures were removed using 17 earthmovers. The removal team involved over 150 officials, workers and equal number of police personnel, it said.

The debris emerging out of the demolition was removed using 15 dumper trucks so as to ease the movement of vehicle, it added.

Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav, who had visited the area a few days earlier to assess the situation and speak with residents said, “These roads are extremely important from the perspective of the city’s development and the Master Plan.”

Despite being given adequate time and notices, residents had not remove the illegal constructions and obstructions standing in the way of the road, he said adding ensuring the timely construction of Master Plan roads was the corporation’s responsibility and that the drive would continue until the task was complete.

The road, initially proposed to be widened to 80 feet, will now be expanded to 60 feet following resistance from local residents. The revised plan reflects a compromise reached after consultations with the community.