18 structures demolished on land marked for SAI’s 140-acre project

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Friday launched demolition drive across nearly 87.25 acres of land earmarked for the regional centre of Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Wathoda and Tarodi (Khurd). The land, located behind Symbiosis College, is part of a larger 140-acre parcel proposed to be handed over to SAI for sports infrastructure development.Backed by heavy police deployment of around 100 personnel, the NMC's enforcement team began razing illegal constructions early in the morning amid resistance from locals. Officials from the estate department and Nehru Nagar zone led the operation, deploying six JCB machines and over 60 civic staffers under the supervision of officiating assistant municipal commissioners Vikas Raibole and Harish Raut, along with enforcement superintendent Sanjay Kamble.Of the 76 unauthorised houses, shops and tin sheds identified in the area, 18 tin structures were demolished on the first day. By afternoon, more than 12 structures were pulled down. However, the drive faced legal hurdles as six residents secured stay orders from court, temporarily halting demolition of a few units. Despite protests and mounting pressure, the civic squad continued its action under tight security.The affected plots fall under Khasra numbers 53, 54 and 60. One tin shed in Khasra 53 was removed, while five out of eight sheds in Khasra 54 were demolished; the remaining three managed to get court protection. In Khasra 60, all 12 tin sheds were demolished by late evening. The Nehru Nagar zone office had issued notices on January 30, warning occupants to vacate or face forcible eviction.The 140-acre allocation to SAI includes 13.18 acres in Wathoda and 74 acres in Tarodi (Khurd). In the first phase, 87.25 acres — largely comprising sparsely populated stretches — are being cleared and formally transferred. The remaining 54 acres, which fall in densely populated pockets, will be tackled in the second phase, signalling more confrontations ahead.With the administration determined to hand over the land for a national-level sports facility, the crackdown underscores the growing friction between urban expansion, encroachments and public infrastructure ambitions in Nagpur.