Gurgaon: In the biggest exercise the city has seen to clear infringement of public space by property owners, enforcement teams have removed illegal extensions from nearly 1,000 houses in three days, tearing down ramps, guard rooms, lawns, kiosks and other structures built on public land across major licensed colonies.There are two more days to go in the exercise, after which the town and country planning department (DTCP) will submit an action-taken report to the state govt. Spread across DLF Phase 1, South City 1, Palam Vihar, Sushant Lok-2, Uppal Southend, Malibu Town, Ardee City and Suncity , the demolitions follow a Punjab and Haryana high court stay on the state’s stilt-plus-four-floor policy and a subsequent govt order asking agencies to clear right of way violations by April 22.
A bulldozer removes an illegally built house ramp in DLF 2
Officials said the drive is aimed at reclaiming roads, green belts and public spaces that have steadily shrunk under years of unchecked encroachment. “This is a court-driven action linked to a PIL. All encroachments within the right of way — from 9 meters to 24 meters — must be cleared in a time-bound manner before April 22,” district town planner (enforcement) Amit Madholia said.On Monday, enforcement teams intensified action across multiple colonies. In DLF Phase 1, where the drive last Saturday began, around 550 houses in A Block Extension and J Block along Jacaranda Marg, Bougainvilla Marg, Dakshin Marg, Akashneem Marg and Madhya Marg were inspected and illegal extensions were removed, officials said. The operation started at Central Arcade market, where an illegal taxi stand and kiosks were demolished.DTCP teams also removed general stores and temporary shanties on Dakshin Marg, besides clearing around 150 illegal lawns and extended parks, over 40 ramps, and illegal grills, barricades, staircases and gates outside more than 100 houses.
The most common among violations was extensions of private lawns, gardens and landscaping into public roads.
In South City 1, teams removed encroachments from 96 houses where private lawns and fencing had spilled onto internal roads. They also demolished 15 labor quarters and toilets built on public land, along with 27 guard rooms and 17 hoardings.At Palam Vihar, action covered 140 houses in Block A. Fencing was cleared, and gardens and other extensions obstructing an 18-metre-wide road removed. In Sushant Lok-2 near Golf Course Road, the teams removed 15 ramps, nine steps, six DG sets placed on footpaths, three guard rooms and 16 instances of landscaping extended onto roads.In Uppal Southend and Malibu Town, officials dismantled illegal barricading, boundary walls, ramps and steps, and cleared encroachments in green areas, including 14 metal barricades and two structures. A PG accommodation operating in violation of norms was also identified. Ardee City saw two teams remove guard rooms, parking sheds, ramps, fencing, tin sheds and hoardings. Similar action followed in Suncity, Adani Samara and Brahma City.“These violations may appear small individually, but collectively, they choke infrastructure, reduce road width and create safety hazards,” Madholia said. He added that eight teams have been deployed and residents asked to remove encroachments voluntarily or face demolition “without exception”.The high court has restrained implementation of the S-plus-4 policy, citing concerns over infrastructure stress and widespread violations. An order by the government on April 16, issued by additional chief secretary Anurag Aggarwal, also flagged misuse of stilt floors meant for parking, many of which have been converted into shops, offices or residential units.Officials said the drive will continue in remaining pockets and against repeat violations.
