GURUGRAM: By midday, many found themselves homeless. For numerous young professionals residing in paying guest accommodations and rental flats in DLF-3, the current sealing operation against unauthorized constructions has intensified their workdays into a frantic struggle — racing against time to pack up and evacuate.
Some were alerted by neighbors or landlords, while others were caught off guard upon arriving home to find police vans and bulldozers waiting outside.
All tenants had a mere one or two hours — sometimes even less — to gather their belongings.
This crackdown, led by the town and country planning department, comes on the heels of Punjab and Haryana high court directives targeting illegal constructions in DLF phases. Following a previous sealing round in June, authorities resumed their efforts against buildings found in violation of approved plans or housing unauthorized PGs.
For many tenants, particularly newcomers to the NCR region, the legality of the buildings was a concern they never anticipated would affect their housing security. “One phone call, and suddenly we were told to vacate. I had just paid rent last week,” recounted Sushant, a young executive whose family had arrived from Lucknow just days earlier to see his living arrangements. A 26-year-old woman from Bengal, who had recently relocated to Gurgaon for her first job in Cyber City, faced her eviction during an office meeting on June 18.
In a state of panic, she received a call from a neighbor urging her to rush back to her S-block rental. Upon arrival, she was confronted with over 50 police personnel and a bulldozer outside. Residents were instructed to clear out within two hours; she had only about 10 minutes to react. “I had a proper rental agreement. Police verification was done. Everything was legal on my part,” she told TOI. Paying Rs 30,000 monthly, plus a similar security deposit, she had no time to discuss other arrangements. The sealing operation progressed floor by floor, and by the time she reached her third-floor flat, the lower levels had already been shut down. In a rush, she stuffed what she could into a trolley and some bags, leaving her passport, license, appliances, and groceries behind as her room was sealed in front of her. Her mother, who was helping her settle, remained unaware of the chaos unfolding downstairs. That night, they desperately searched for accommodation and eventually secured a serviced apartment in Sushant Lok for Rs 2,800 per day.
The shock was equally harsh for another 26-year-old corporate worker from Bhubaneswar, who was in her hometown when her landlord called on June 20. “I thought it was a cruel joke,” she said. Having moved into her furnished 1BHK in February after querying the owner about the legality of the building, she found herself at a loss when she could not return in time. A friend attempted to collect her belongings but had to break a lock since she had the keys. The property manager warned that the cost would be deducted from her security deposit. Her friend managed to retrieve some documents and clothing before the building was sealed, but furniture and kitchen items remain inaccessible. Since then, all her attempts to contact the landlord have gone unanswered.
Now residing in a hotel that costs over Rs 1,600 a day, she spends her evenings searching for a new place. “My trust is shattered. I don’t believe in brokers or landlords after this; every house now feels uncertain,” she expressed to TOI. Many tenants voiced their outrage, questioning why they were left to shoulder the consequences for buildings they had assumed were legitimate when they had signed agreements and completed police verification.
