Parts of 16 structures demolished for master plan road expansion

Indore: Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) on Thursday demolished portions of 16 houses between Laxmibai statue and Jinsi Square to facilitate construction of a major road under the city’s master plan.

The anti-encroachment drive was executed under tight security with a large deployment of police personnel to prevent any law-and-order issues.

IMC had previously identified 78 structures encroaching upon the proposed master plan road layout and issued regulatory notices to the property owners.

While a majority of the residents voluntarily dismantled the conflicting sections of their buildings, 16 owners failed to comply within the stipulated timeframe. This non-compliance prompted the enforcement action following direct orders from Municipal Commissioner Kshitij Singhal.

According to IMC removal officer Ankesh Birthariya, the operation involved four specialized municipal teams deployed at the site. The corporation used five earthmovers and five hydraulic excavators to systematically pull down the unauthorized concrete extensions. Officials confirmed that the drive proceeded smoothly without any resistance, following an earlier inspection and advisory visit by Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava.

IMC Commissioner Kshitij Singhal has issued instructions to all municipal building officers and structural inspectors for immediate identification and auditing of dilapidated and hazardous buildings across all municipal zones to prevent accidental structural collapses during monsoon.

IMC has already dismantled two severely dilapidated buildings, while property owners voluntarily demolished three others following official warnings. The corporation confirmed that evacuation and demolition notices for the remaining hazardous structures are currently being processed.