What Actions Did Vadodara Civic Body Take Against Illegal Encroachments?

Vadodara, May 22 (NationPress) - The enforcement team of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation in Gujarat has undertaken significant measures across various neighborhoods, demolishing unauthorized structures and confiscating goods from traders who were operating on public roads.

The initiative, designed to clear internal society roads and bustling market areas in anticipation of the monsoon season, generated alarm among vendors and caused temporary traffic interruptions in certain parts of the city.

Municipal officials indicated that these enforcement actions are part of a wider campaign to clear public areas before the rainy season, which is aimed at enhancing road safety.

“Encroachments pose serious risks during monsoon, from flooding to emergency access issues. We are acting on public complaints and will continue such operations across the city,” stated a senior official.

The enforcement drive commenced at Chitrakoot Society on Waghodia Road, where several tenement owners had reportedly encroached on internal society roads by erecting illegal compound walls. These encroachments had been the subject of numerous complaints from local residents and were subsequently demolished by bulldozers from the municipal enforcement team.

Security personnel were deployed at the scene to manage the crowd that had gathered to witness the demolitions, requesting them to disperse to facilitate the operation without disruptions. Concurrent actions were conducted on Panigate Road, where vegetable vendors had allegedly taken over road space, presenting hazards to commuters and pedestrians.

As bulldozers approached, many vendors began to flee with their goods, resulting in a momentary stampede-like situation. Similar scenes unfolded in Mangal Bazaar, Dudhwala Moholla, and Cycle Bazaar, where long-standing encroachments by lorry vendors, shopkeepers, and traders had narrowed roads and led to multiple accidents, as reported by the civic body.

In Mangal Bazaar, panic erupted as soon as the word spread that the enforcement team was closing in.

Numerous vendors hastily attempted to dismantle their makeshift stalls and awnings, but the municipal team acted swiftly, confiscating items from several vendors, including those operating from lorries and roadside setups.

Ultimately, three truckloads of goods were seized during Tuesday’s operation. In Dudhwala Mohalla, where narrow lanes had been blocked by makeshift structures and vendor stalls, the enforcement branch successfully cleared temporary encroachments.

Nevertheless, in the Cycle Bazaar area, most traders managed to relocate their goods and clear the road before authorities arrived, thus avoiding direct confrontation and seizure.

The civic administration has urged residents to avoid illegal constructions or roadside business activities that obstruct movement and threaten public safety.

Further enforcement actions are anticipated in other congested areas in the upcoming days.