RMC reclaims land worth 350cr in massive anti-encroachment drive

Rajkot: In one of the city's largest anti-encroachment operations in recent years, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) demolished 1,489 illegal structures over Feb 23–24, reclaiming staggering 88,750 sq m of land worth an estimated Rs 350 crore. The operation cleared land obstructing a major town planning road and encroaching the ecologically sensitive Aji riverbank.The cleared area included 33,750 sq m (497 structures) along the 15-metre T.P. Road from Bapunagar to Nadodanagar, and 55,000 sq m (992 structures) along the riverbank. Debris removal is currently underway.Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, municipal commissioner Tushar Sumera and deputy commissioner of police (Zone-1) Hetal Patel said the operation involved 1,512 personnel and 261 heavy machines, logging over 33,000 man-hours. The Rajkot City police provided security throughout the drive.Officials said the demolition was necessary for public safety and disaster management, noting the flood-prone nature of the Jungleshwar site, where many structures were razed. The 2024 monsoon had caused the Aji Dam to overflow, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,378 residents and requiring NDRF intervention.Furthermore, freeing the 15 metre town planning road will ensure critical emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire brigades, have unobstructed access to the area.Authorities confirmed that all legal protocols were strictly followed, with repeated warnings and notices served to encroachers before the final demolition orders were issued. Many of the demolished properties were high-value: around 200 modern houses, over 750 properties worth more than Rs 5 lakh, and nearly 250 homes valued at Rs 15–20 lakh were removed.On rehabilitation, the RMC said 873 homes have been allotted to residents from the Jungleshwar area, out of 37,000 housing units built by the corporation.