Gandhinagar civic body begins demolition of 700 illegal structures along the Sabarmati river

The authorities in Gujarat’s capital launched a massive anti-encroachment drive in the early hours of Thursday (September 18, 2025) to clear nearly one lakh square metres of government land along the Sabarmati riverbank, officials said.

The operation, which began around 4 a.m. in Pethapur, is being carried out jointly by the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, the State Roads and Buildings Department, and the district police.

“Close to 700 illegal structures were identified for demolition. Around 150 houses and shops were razed by Thursday afternoon, and work is underway to remove the rest,” they said.

The drive is being supervised by 20 teams officials, with 700 police personnel, including senior officers, deployed for security.

The encroached land spans about one lakh square metres and carries an estimated market value of ₹1,000 crore, they said.