15 years later, Akota slum residents keep promise and vacate plot voluntarily

Vadodara: In a rare gesture of civic cooperation, residents living on a Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) plot in the Akota area voluntarily vacated the land and invited the civic body to demolish their dwellings — honouring a commitment they made 15 years ago.The residents had originally belonged to Pir Vasahat, a slum settlement in Akota, which the VMC sought to vacate in 2010 to make way for the Akota-Dandia Bazaar Road development project. At the time, the civic body offered them homes in a housing scheme in Pratapnagar, but many were reluctant to relocate due to the distance from their workplaces in Akota and nearby areas."We had suggested identifying a nearby plot in Akota for housing, but there was no scheme available then," said Imtiaz Patel, former councillor of the area. VMC eventually agreed to allow the residents to temporarily settle on a plot near the burial ground in Akota, with a promise that they would vacate once permanent housing was provided.Some residents later accepted homes in Pratapnagar, while others who could afford it moved into rented accommodation. Around 30 families remained on the temporary site and built makeshift homes, continuing to live there for 15 years.Recently, these families were allotted homes under the Rajiv Awas Yojana on Sun Pharma Road. Once the houses were ready, the residents kept their word and moved out on Saturday without protest or delay."I used to work near Genda Circle and could not have shifted to Pratapnagar back then," said Abdul Gani Sheikh, a former resident who sells two-wheeler seat covers. "We only sought temporary help. Now that we have permanent homes, we have fulfilled our commitment."Patel and other local representatives informed VMC officials about the vacated plot. The civic body promptly deployed personnel and machinery to clear the site. The demolition was completed swiftly and peacefully, with no need for police presence.According to Patel, VMC plans to construct a school on the vacant land. "This will benefit the local community and ensure that the space is used for public good," he said.