Did the Rajkot civic body just clear illegal constructions worth Rs 94 crore near the TRP fire site?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- RMC's demolition drive targets illegal constructions.
- Over Rs 94 crore worth of structures cleared.
- Action taken post-TRP Game Zone fire tragedy.
- Focus on public safety and compliance with regulations.
- Tragic loss of 33 lives highlighted urgency for action.
Rajkot, Sep 12 (NationPress) In a decisive demolition operation triggered by the tragic fire at the TRP Game Zone, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) took action on Friday to dismantle illegal structures spanning three high-value plots valued at over Rs 94 crore.
The Town Planning (TP) Department demolished six huts and a large shed, covering 9,923 sq.m. of land, which included areas designated for social infrastructure and educational purposes.
RMC officials reported that the action involved a sheet shed located on 3,695 sq.m. of land across from the burnt TRP Game Zone, earmarked for social infrastructure and valued at Rs 36.95 crore; three huts on a 1,004 sq.m. residential plot worth Rs 10 crore near Sayaji Hotel; and three additional huts on 5,224 sq.m. in Nanamwa’s R.K. Nagar Main Road, designated for a school and valued at Rs 47.01 crore.
Despite the extensive clearance, officials refrained from revealing the identities of the encroachers.
Furthermore, the civic body utilized bulldozers to eliminate encroachments along a 200-meter stretch of a 15-meter-wide TP road close to Laxminagar Nala.
At Silver Gold Residency in Nanamwa, an unauthorized 42 sq m commercial structure erected by Bhupatbhai Gamara on margin space was also demolished after multiple notices under Section 260(1) and 260(2) were ignored.
This crackdown comes amidst increased scrutiny of illegal structures in Rajkot, particularly in areas adjacent to the TRP Game Zone, where one of the state's deadliest fire incidents occurred earlier this year.
On May 25, 2024, a catastrophic fire erupted at the TRP Game Zone, an indoor recreational facility in the Nana-Mava area of Rajkot, Gujarat. The inferno spread quickly through the building, constructed largely from flammable materials such as fibre sheets, plywood, and tin sheds.
At least 33 lives, including children, were lost, making it one of the most devastating fire incidents in recent years in Gujarat.
Numerous victims were trapped inside, as the game zone reportedly lacked adequate fire safety measures and proper exits. Investigations uncovered that the facility was operating without the necessary fire safety clearance and had violated multiple building and safety regulations.
The Rajkot Municipal Corporation and local officials faced severe backlash for negligence, allowing the game zone to operate despite repeated warnings.