143 illegal structures demolished in Shalimar Bagh after SC clears road widening drive
Authorities began demolishing 143 encroachments in Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh after the Supreme Court upheld land clearance for a road widening project. The action follows decades-old acquisition proceedings, with officials also announcing relief measures for affected families
New Delhi: Authorities on Sunday began demolishing 143 illegal structures in Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh area after the Supreme Court upheld orders permitting the clearance of encroachments from land earmarked for the road widening, officials said.
The demolition drive was launched in Haiderpur village, where the structures were found within the designated 30-metre right of way of the proposed corridor — Road No. 320 — linking the Shalimar Bagh Railway Under Bridge with the Outer Ring Road.
According to district authorities, the action follows the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a Special Leave Petition challenging the project. The apex court’s order upheld an earlier Delhi High Court ruling that had rejected pleas seeking to halt the demolition and declare the decades-old land acquisition proceedings invalid.
District Magistrate S S Parihar said the land forms part of an acquired government parcel designated as a public road under the Delhi Development Authority’s Master Plan.
The project aims to ease congestion and improve connectivity between Shalimar Bagh, Azadpur, Ring Road and adjoining residential and commercial areas, he said.
Officials said a joint survey conducted by the Delhi Development Authority, Revenue Department, Land and Building Department and Public Works Department in January this year identified 143 unauthorised permanent structures within the right of way.
While the approved corridor width is 30 metres, the present phase targets only about 10.5 metres of encroached land required for the project, they added.
The administration said the land acquisition process was initiated through notifications issued in 1959 and 1961, with awards announced in 1980.
Possession of the land was taken in July 1980 and compensation was deposited by 1981. Residents had approached the Delhi High Court contending that the acquisition had lapsed under provisions of the 2013 land acquisition law.
The court, however, ruled that the acquisition remained valid and that the petitioners failed to establish pre-acquisition ownership rights. A review petition was subsequently dismissed before the matter reached the Supreme Court.
The Delhi government has announced a relief package for eligible affected families, including a one-time ex gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh and temporary accommodation for up to 11 months at Savda Ghevra for those without alternative housing in the national capital.
“The DM emphasised that while the administration is committed to fully implementing court orders, it is equally focused on providing maximum possible support to affected families,” officials said.
Officials added that the demolition exercise would continue until all encroachments within the required project area are removed.
