Delhi Authorities Begin Demolitions in Shalimar Bagh for Road Widening

Delhi authorities began a demolition drive in Shalimar Bagh to clear illegal constructions for a public road-widening project.

The operation represents a significant effort by the city administration to reclaim public land and improve urban infrastructure despite legal challenges from property owners.

District administration officials, Delhi Police, and paramilitary personnel were deployed to manage the site. The security detail included Deputy Commissioners of Police and Assistant Commissioners of Police to maintain order as crews began razing approximately 150 illegal structures ^[1].

The drive follows a legal battle in the Delhi High Court. On April 10, 2024, the court issued an order allowing authorities to proceed with the demolition ^[2]. This judicial approval came after the administration sought to widen the public road to alleviate congestion and improve traffic flow.

Occupants of the targeted buildings were given a specific timeframe to vacate their premises. The deadline for owners and residents to leave the properties was May 30, 2024 ^[2]. Once that notice period expired, the city began the process of clearing the land.

The project focuses on removing structures that encroached upon the planned width of the road. By removing these illegal constructions, the city intends to finalize the widening project to better serve the residents of Shalimar Bagh, and surrounding areas.

Authorities maintained a heavy presence throughout the early stages of the drive to prevent clashes between the demolition crews and the displaced residents. The coordination between the district administration and law enforcement was designed to ensure the court-mandated demolition proceeded without significant disruption.