Ahmedabad AMC clears 708 handcarts, thousands of encroachments in 15-day blitz
Synopsis
In a simultaneous sweep across all seven zones, Ahmedabad's civic body dismantled 708 handcarts, 313 sheds, 35 permanent road structures, and over 5,000 other items in just 15 days — one of the largest coordinated anti-encroachment actions the city has seen, with ₹8.62 lakh in fines collected and enforcement set to continue.
Key Takeaways
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) ran a 15-day anti-encroachment drive from 24 July to 7 August 2025 across all seven zones .
708 handcarts and stalls were removed, along with 313 illegal sheds and 1,066 tarpaulins .
1,987 advertisement boards and 5,196 miscellaneous items were seized or dismantled from public roads.
35 permanent structures built on roads were demolished; 1,159 vehicles were wheel-clamped and 10 towed .
The drive collected ₹8.62 lakh in administrative fines; the AMC has confirmed enforcement will continue.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) dismantled 708 handcarts and stalls and cleared thousands of illegal encroachments from public roads, footpaths, and highways during an intensive 15-day anti-encroachment drive across the city, officials said on Saturday, 8 August. The campaign, which ran from 24 July to 7 August, also generated ₹8.62 lakh in administrative fines.
Scale of the Operation
The AMC Estate Department conducted the drive across all seven AMC zones, targeting structures and items obstructing public movement. In addition to the 708 handcarts and stalls, teams removed 313 illegal sheds and 1,066 tarpaulins. A further 1,987 advertisement boards installed on public roads were seized or taken down, along with 5,196 miscellaneous items.
The civic body also acted against illegally parked vehicles: 1,159 vehicles were wheel-clamped and 10 vehicles were towed away. Notably, 35 permanent structures built on public roads were also demolished during the campaign.
Zones Covered Across the City
The operation spanned all corners of Ahmedabad. In the West Zone, teams covered Golden Triangle, Stadium Char Rasta, Swastik Char Rasta, Panchvati Five Roads, Parimal Garden underpass, Naranpura Char Rasta, Ankur Char Rasta, and Shastrinagar.
The North-West Zone saw action along Damru Circle in Ghatlodia towards Chanakyapuri Road, the Gujarat High Court complex, Judges Bungalow Road, Pakwan Char Rasta, Mansi Circle, Keshavbaug, ISKCON Char Rasta, Thaltej, and Vaishnodevi Circle. In the Central Zone, the drive covered Jamalpur Flower Market, APMC Market, Geeta Mandir, Kalupur Railway Station, Prem Darwaja, Delhi Darwaja, and Manek Chowk.
The East Zone included Hastinapur, Hatkeshwar Circle Road, Rabari Colony, Nikol, Sonini Chali, Sarangpur Bridge, and the stretch from Thakkarbapanagar to Jashodanagar. The South Zone covered Piplaj-Pirana Road, Saijpur, P.D. Pandya College Road, Govindwadi, Isanpur, Ghodasar Canal Road, and CTM Cross Road.
What the AMC Said
The Estate Department has appealed to property owners, traders, shopkeepers, and vehicle owners to refrain from creating illegal encroachments on public roads and highways. The civic body confirmed that intensive anti-encroachment action will continue beyond the current campaign period.
Why It Matters
Encroachments on public roads and footpaths are a persistent urban governance challenge in Ahmedabad, often cited as a contributor to traffic congestion and pedestrian safety hazards. The scale of this drive — spanning all seven zones simultaneously and targeting everything from handcarts to permanent structures — signals a more coordinated enforcement approach than typical ward-level actions. This comes amid broader efforts by Gujarat's urban local bodies to improve road infrastructure ahead of increased civic scrutiny.
Point of View
35 permanent structures, and over 8,000 items across seven zones in a fortnight — points to accumulated enforcement neglect rather than a sudden surge in violations. Periodic blitzes of this scale tend to generate headlines but rarely resolve the structural incentive that makes encroachment recur: inadequate vending zones and parking infrastructure. The AMC's own appeal to traders not to re-encroach is telling — it suggests the civic body knows removal alone is not a durable fix. The real test is whether this drive is followed by designated vending spaces or remains a recurring clean-up cycle.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's 15-day anti-encroachment drive achieve?
The AMC removed 708 handcarts and stalls, 313 illegal sheds, 1,066 tarpaulins, 1,987 advertisement boards, and 5,196 miscellaneous items across all seven city zones between 24 July and 7 August 2025. The drive also collected ₹8.62 lakh in administrative fines.
Which areas of Ahmedabad were covered in the encroachment drive?
All seven AMC zones were covered, including key locations such as Manek Chowk, Kalupur Railway Station, SG Highway, ISKCON Char Rasta, Nikol, Hatkeshwar, and Piplaj-Pirana Road, among many others spread across the West, East, North, South, Central, North-West, and South-West zones.
Were any vehicles seized during the Ahmedabad AMC drive?
Yes, the AMC wheel-clamped 1,159 illegally parked vehicles and towed away 10 vehicles during the 15-day campaign.
Will the AMC continue anti-encroachment action after this drive?
Yes, the AMC Estate Department has confirmed that intensive action against encroachments obstructing public roads will continue beyond the current campaign. Officials have also appealed to traders, shopkeepers, and vehicle owners not to re-encroach on public spaces.
How many permanent structures were demolished in the Ahmedabad drive?
The AMC removed 35 permanent structures that had been illegally constructed on public roads during the 15-day operation.
