AHMEDABAD: The demolition activity to widen the disputed 900m road connecting Jhansi Ki Rani junction to former chief minister Chimanbhai Patel’s bungalow in Ambawadi ward continued on Sunday.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) demolished a school, nine residences and 21 commercial establishments. The disputed 18m-wide road had been approved for the town planning scheme 21 in Ambawadi’s green belt zone in October 2017. However, in 2019, the residents of Gajraben ni Chali objected to the road widening project and approached Gujarat high court, which immediately imposed a stay on the demolition activities.
But after several representations made by the AMC till May 2022, the HC lifted the stay and allowed the civic body to continue with the demolition activity to widen the road. “The demolition work had been going on for the past two days. The road widening will help ease traffic near at least four junctions between Nehrunagar and Shivaranjani crossroads,” said a senior AMC official. In October 2013, the municipal corporation had given its nod to develop 13 new town planning schemes for nearly 636 hectares of the green belt zone. Since 2003, most of the green belt zone — a majority of which lies in West and New West zones — was embroiled in a legal battle between the civic body and the Green Belt Khedut Association, stalling all development.
Following the Supreme Court ruling on October 8, 2013, a compromise was reached, and the civic body was allowed to deduct 40% of the land for various civic services in accordance with the Gujarat Town Planning Act.
