Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation’s (SMC) town planning department on Wednesday started a mega demolition drive for the widening of the road on the Pal-Umara bridge route in Umara.
The demolition staff reached the spot with JCB machines and started the demolition of the compound walls and other properties for the 80-feet widening of the road connecting the Pal-Umara bridge in Umara area. About 40,000 square feet of construction including compound walls, entry gates, sheds and a portion of a public garden will be demolished.
Sources said there was an altercation with few residents when the demolition staff reached the spot with three JCB machines and a staff of more than 20 civic officials and policemen. After the intervention of senior civic officials, the residents decided to cooperate with the demolition exercise.
It must be noted that there are about 20 families residing on the 1,800 square metres of land obstructing the construction of the approach end at Umara. The civic body has been trying to convince the families to vacate their houses, but only seven families have agreed so far. However, the civic body has issued notices inviting suggestions from the residents till February 26. The road alignment will be announced after getting the approval of the standing committee.
Ketan Patel, deputy municipal commissioner and head of town planning department, told TOI: “We have started the exercise of clearing encroachments in 40,000 square feet area for the 80 feet road widening on the Pal-Umara bridge route from Wednesday.”
“We have set the target of clearing all the encroachments including the 20 houses under the occupied land of the bridge’s approach end in the next one month,” added Patel.
According to Patel, the civic body has reached a compromise formula for the 20 families for giving them alternate plots equal to the size of their present residential property with cumulative construction amount of Rs 2.50 crore. Even the families have been offered Rs 12,000 monthly rent till their new houses get ready.
Akshay Pandya, executive engineer of SMC’s bridge cell, said, “About 95% of the bridge has been completed for the last two years. But due to the issue of the residents occupying the land, we are unable to construct the approach end. Once the bridge is completed, it will help more than 15 lakh people travelling in Pal and Umara areas.”
The demolition staff reached the spot with JCB machines and started the demolition of the compound walls and other properties for the 80-feet widening of the road connecting the Pal-Umara bridge in Umara area. About 40,000 square feet of construction including compound walls, entry gates, sheds and a portion of a public garden will be demolished.
Sources said there was an altercation with few residents when the demolition staff reached the spot with three JCB machines and a staff of more than 20 civic officials and policemen. After the intervention of senior civic officials, the residents decided to cooperate with the demolition exercise.
It must be noted that there are about 20 families residing on the 1,800 square metres of land obstructing the construction of the approach end at Umara. The civic body has been trying to convince the families to vacate their houses, but only seven families have agreed so far. However, the civic body has issued notices inviting suggestions from the residents till February 26. The road alignment will be announced after getting the approval of the standing committee.
Ketan Patel, deputy municipal commissioner and head of town planning department, told TOI: “We have started the exercise of clearing encroachments in 40,000 square feet area for the 80 feet road widening on the Pal-Umara bridge route from Wednesday.”
“We have set the target of clearing all the encroachments including the 20 houses under the occupied land of the bridge’s approach end in the next one month,” added Patel.
According to Patel, the civic body has reached a compromise formula for the 20 families for giving them alternate plots equal to the size of their present residential property with cumulative construction amount of Rs 2.50 crore. Even the families have been offered Rs 12,000 monthly rent till their new houses get ready.
Akshay Pandya, executive engineer of SMC’s bridge cell, said, “About 95% of the bridge has been completed for the last two years. But due to the issue of the residents occupying the land, we are unable to construct the approach end. Once the bridge is completed, it will help more than 15 lakh people travelling in Pal and Umara areas.”
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