Rampur Municipal Council Demolishes Shops: The Rampur Nagar Palika Parishad demolished over a dozen shops near the old roadways bus stand using bulldozers. This action was carried out under the leadership of EO Durgeshwar Tripathi, with the support of police personnel.
Bulldozer Action in Rampur: In Rampur district, Uttar Pradesh, the Nagar Palika Parishad conducted a major demolition drive on Saturday, razing over 70 permanent shops near the old roadways bus stand. This caused considerable disruption in the area and impacted traffic flow. The demolition, led by EO Durgeshwar Tripathi, was executed in the presence of police and administrative officials. The municipality had previously marked the shops and issued an ultimatum for their evacuation, after which shopkeepers began removing their belongings.
Rampur Municipal Council's Major Action
The demolition began early Saturday morning when municipal council personnel arrived with bulldozers. Civil Line Kotwali police and other police forces were also present. Administrative officials ensured security, deploying police in front of the shops. Following this, the municipal workers and bulldozers began the demolition process.
Within two hours, over a dozen shops were demolished. The removal of debris followed and continued into the evening.
How the Operation Was Conducted?
The Nagar Palika Parishad launched this anti-encroachment drive several days prior. Shops were marked, and shopkeepers were given an ultimatum to remove illegal encroachments. During Saturday's demolition, most shopkeepers had already removed their belongings and ceased business. However, some shops had items removed late into the night. While shopkeepers had limited time when the municipal workers arrived with bulldozers, they had largely vacated their premises beforehand.
Over 70 Permanent Shops Demolished
This demolition drive, conducted over six days in four phases, resulted in the demolition of over 70 permanent shops. Affected areas included the old roadways bus stand, the sugarcane board area, Meena Bazaar, and the area in front of Shivi Talkies. All shop owners were given a four-hour ultimatum to vacate; those who failed to comply had their shops demolished.
Reasons Behind the Action?
The primary objective of the Nagar Palika Parishad was to remove encroachments, widen roads, and improve traffic flow within the city. Rampant encroachment in Rampur district over the past few years had created significant administrative challenges. The problem was particularly acute in busy areas like the old roadways bus stand, where illegal shops had proliferated, hindering traffic and degrading the area's aesthetics.
The municipality had issued prior warnings to shopkeepers. However, due to non-compliance, the stringent action was deemed necessary. The process was conducted peacefully, with police and administrative officials present to ensure minimal disruption.
Reactions from Locals and Traders
The action caused significant unrest in the area. Besides shopkeepers, passersby on the Ram Rahim bridge also stopped to witness the event, with some recording videos that went viral on social media. Traders reacted bly to the demolition of their shops, with many reporting financial hardship. While traders expressed distress, the municipality maintained that the action was necessary to create a legally sound and organized city.
