GURUGRAM: On Sunday, a demolition drive took place in Saraswati Kunj, located along Golf Course Road, where nearly 350 shanties, two under-construction houses, and a boundary wall were removed.
According to the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), the action was taken to “restore road access and prevent further unauthorized occupation” in this high-value area.
With heavy police presence, the operation proceeded without incident. District town planner (enforcement) Amit Madholia commented, “This is part of an ongoing effort to clear illegal constructions throughout Gurgaon.” He highlighted the encroachments on government land and the right of way (ROW) along internal roads in Sector 53.
Saraswati Kunj, established in 1983, has been embroiled in disputes since 2004 when a cooperative group allegedly allotted 9,000 plots despite a capacity for only 4,000 houses. So far, only 1,500 plots have been formally allotted.
In 2016, the Haryana government appointed a commission led by retired IAS officer SP Sharma to identify the original plot owners of the colony. Since then, all new construction has been prohibited. Nevertheless, illegal constructions continue to arise without the necessary permits or approved plans. This isn’t the first enforcement action in Saraswati Kunj; on June 30, four houses built against approved layout plans were demolished, along with two buildings in advanced construction stages, and two labor accommodations located along a specific route were also removed.
A DTCP official reiterated, “The ROW must remain clear for movement and public access; no construction is permitted on it under any circumstances.”
