Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the district administration cleared illegal encroachments from Plot No. 97 of the Smart City in TT Nagar early on Sunday morning.
The action, which began at 4:30 AM, was carried out with the help of a police force, SDM Archana Sharma and six bulldozer machines.
According to the officials, the encroached plot, located near Platinum Plaza, was sold by the Smart City Company in 2022-23 but remained under illegal occupation.
Despite multiple attempts by the corporation, previous efforts to clear the area were stalled due to opposition from members of the nearby Pal Mandir, who feared damage to the temple.
Acting on information that boundary construction had resumed late Saturday night, SDM Archana Sharma coordinated with corporation officials at around 2 AM. Police barricaded the area surrounding Pal Mandir to prevent interference.
By 4:30 AM, encroachment officer Shailendra Singh Bhadauria and his team began the demolition, using six bulldozers and three dumpers. Within two hours, the illegal constructions were razed and the team got the site vacated before the temple representatives could arrive.
This marks the first time such a large-scale encroachment removal operation was executed at dawn by the corporation. The Smart City land is now cleared but a final decision regarding the disputed Pal Mandir boundary wall remains pending with the district administration.
Other removal
Following the TT Nagar action, the team proceeded to New Market, where encroachment removal began even before the shops opened. Breakfast carts stationed under Panchanan Bhawan were removed, along with other unauthorised stalls from the market corridor.
The staff seized 7 carts, a food van, a Magic van, and an auto, all of which were taken to the local police station. Additionally, 7 truckloads of encroached goods were confiscated from the corridor.
