Ahead of G20, hutments razed near Pragati Maidan
NEW DELHI: The Public Works Department (PWD) on Thursday started a demolition drive at the slum (JJ) cluster on Bhairon Marg near Pragati Maidan to remove about 50 illegal structures. The action came after a Delhi high court hearing on May 2 in which the court refused to stay the demolition drive against the illegal JJ cluster and gave the inhabitants time till May 31 to vacate the area. The anti-encroachment drive on Thursday also led to traffic chaos during the peak morning hours in some parts of central and east Delhi.
“About 50 shanties have been removed. We will now clear the rubble and make the pavement walkable for pedestrians along with general greenery work. A cow shelter nearby had applied for a stay order that has been granted,” said a PWD official.
The officials said that commuters travelling from Mayur Vihar, Akshardham and Noida faced delays with most of the traffic getting diverted towards ITO and IP Estate. “The diversion was brief, and the process took an hour. However, that led to congestion in the area,” said a senior traffic police official.
The convention centre at Pragati Maidan is expected to host one of the major G20 events in September. As part of the revamp, the PWD had asked the inhabitants to vacate the area. Though PWD said DUSIB will help resettle the displaced families at Geeta Colony, DUSIB officials denied. “We are not liable for the rehabilitation of encroachers. There are sufficient night shelters where these families can stay across the city,” said a senior DUSIB official.