Bhopal Reclaims Land Worth Rs 40 Crore for Raisen Road Upgrade, Removes 70 Shops and 42 Huts
Bhopal: The district administration on Saturday cleared 70 shops and 42 huts from Raisen Road as part of an ongoing road widening project, reclaiming land valued at more than Rs 40 crore.
The action was carried out near the Labour Colony settlement at Piplani Chamaran, opposite the Global Skill Park. Officials said the land had been under encroachment for several years and was required for the expansion of the Public Works Department (PWD) road network.
The drive was conducted in the presence of SDM Bhuvan Gupta and Tehsildar Saurabh Verma, with support from the police and the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC).
According to the administration, encroachments occupied both sides of a 210-metre stretch of PWD road. Around 4,000 square metres, or nearly 43,000 square feet, of land was
cleared during the operation. Officials estimated the market value of the reclaimed land at more than Rs 40 crore.
The administration said the cleared land will be used for the construction of a four-lane road and a bridge aimed at easing traffic congestion on the busy Raisen Road corridor.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders and local residents opposed the demolition drive and demanded rehabilitation for affected families and traders.
Congress leaders alleged that many residents and shopkeepers did not receive adequate notice before the action. They argued that development projects should not leave vulnerable families without shelter or livelihood, particularly during the monsoon season.
The party demanded that the state government and district administration provide proper rehabilitation and compensation to those affected by the clearance drive.
In a separate statement, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation said its anti-encroachment teams continued enforcement action across several parts of the city, including Kolar, Shahpura, MP Nagar, Peer Gate, Imami Gate, Airport Road and other areas. The civic body removed illegal sheds, roadside stalls and vehicles obstructing public movement and seized encroachment-related materials.
The corporation also assisted the district administration in the Raisen Road operation, where officials reported the removal of 69 huts and 70 shops from the project area.
The administration maintained that the action was necessary to support infrastructure development and improve traffic flow in one of Bhopal’s rapidly growing urban corridors.
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