The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) used bulldozers to demolish illegal multi-storey buildings in the Khanpur and Sainik Farm areas of Delhi.
This enforcement action follows a series of public-safety failures and building code violations that have left residents vulnerable to disasters. The drive aims to remove structures that violate land-use regulations and pose immediate risks to the community.
Authorities targeted properties found to be in violation of established building norms [1]. According to reports, the MCD demolished 95 structures during the operation [2]. In addition to the demolitions, officials sealed 124 properties [2].
The scale of the drive was partly prompted by a catastrophic fire at a hotel in Khanpur. That incident resulted in 21 deaths [2]. The tragedy highlighted the danger of illegal constructions that lack proper fire exits and safety certifications, factors that often turn manageable fires into mass-casualty events.
Officials focused on the Khanpur and Sainik Farm neighborhoods due to the high density of unauthorized multi-storey developments [1]. These structures often bypass the legal approval process to maximize floor space, which complicates emergency response efforts and strains local infrastructure.
The MCD action is part of a broader anti-encroachment strategy to reclaim public land and ensure that urban development adheres to safety standards [1]. The use of heavy machinery to raze these buildings serves as a visible deterrent to other developers operating outside the law [2].
“The MCD demolished 95 structures during the operation.”
The demolition drive signals a shift toward aggressive enforcement of building codes in Delhi's high-density zones. By linking the razing of structures directly to the Khanpur hotel fire, the MCD is framing urban regulation not just as a matter of legality, but as a critical component of public health and disaster prevention.
