Civic body razes illegal structures near Gol Bagh railway station, Gillwali Gate areas

The Estate Wing of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation carried out an anti-encroachment drive here on Friday. MC workers razed six illegal kiosks raised outside the Gol Bagh railway station, while encroachments on MC land near Gillwali Gate, opposite the C-Division police station, were also cleared.

During the operation, roadside encroachments done by shopkeepers in the Bhagtanwala and Gol Bagh areas, where goods were displayed on main roads and footpaths, were removed. MC workers took the seized materials into their custody. Estate Officer Dharminderjeet Singh, Inspector Aman Kumar, Arun Sahaj Pal and a police team were present during the drive to ensure smooth execution of the operation.

Joint Commissioner Jai Inder Singh stated that the municipal corporation has launched a dedicated campaign to keep the city’s major roads clean and pedestrian-friendly. For this purpose, the Land Department has been permanently equipped with JCB machines and tippers to facilitate daily removal of illegal structures and encroachments.

He said illegal kiosks installed outside the Gol Bagh railway station had become a nagging issue, which was addressed today. Similarly, shanties and temporary shelters erected on vacant MC land near Gillwali Gate were demolished using heavy machinery. Shopkeepers near Bhagtanwala and Gol Bagh had extended their shops onto roads and pavements, causing inconvenience to pedestrians. These encroachments were also cleared.

The Joint Commissioner appealed to shopkeepers and vendors not to extend their shops or occupy public roads and footpaths beyond the authorised areas like designated vendor markets.

He emphasised that vehicles should be parked only in the official parking zones to avoid congestion. He warned that anti-encroachment drives will continue across the city and urged people to voluntarily remove any illegal structures or goods placed on public property. He also cautioned that any items confiscated during such drives will not be returned.