In a significant move to reclaim public land and enforce urban planning norms, the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) launched an extensive demolition drive in Gurugram’s Sohna tehsil. The operation, which was supported by local law enforcement, targeted six illegal colonies sprawled over approximately 30 acres in Alipur, Raisina, and Bhondsi. With over 40 unauthorized structures dismantled, the drive was part of the government’s ongoing commitment to addressing illegal urbanisation on the city’s outskirts.
Alipur saw the removal of a newly developed illegal colony spread across 3 acres, with officials demolishing a property dealer’s office and a 400-metre road network. In Raisina, the demolition took down an unauthorized development by Raghav Reality over 15 acres, including a boundary wall and structures within the farmhouse. Bhondsi witnessed the clearance of two illegal colonies in Maruti Kunj, covering seven acres. Here, authorities removed 12 structures and a 300-metre road. This operation underscores the challenge of controlling unauthorized developments despite repeated efforts by the DTCP.
The enforcement of such measures is not merely about removing physical structures but reflects a broader attempt to combat unregulated urban sprawl. The proliferation of illegal settlements often stretches public infrastructure and services, leaving urban planning in disarray. The DTCP’s crackdown is a necessary step to maintain planning integrity and ensure that Gurugram’s rapid development does not come at the expense of sustainable urban growth.