MCD, NDMC demolish 200 shops on Panchkuian Road

Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council, on Sunday, jointly cracked down on more than 200 shops on Panchkuain Road following a court order.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council, on Sunday, jointly cracked down on more than 200 shops on Panchkuain Road following a court order.

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A total 180 shops, including 75 shops allotted under the bazari and 25 shops allotted by the land and estate department of the MCD, were demolished under the supervision of MCD's deputy commissioner (Sadar Pahrganj zone) Renu Jagdev.

Simultaneously, 22 shops on the same road, falling within the jurisdiction of NDMC were demolished, as part of the joint action of the two civic agencies.

After the Metro line came up, these shops were on the right of way and were required to be vacated for construction of a road from Rajiv Chowk entry (from Outer Circle) towards Jhandewalan side.

As an alternative, these shops were allotted spaces at a market constructed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation near Gole Market.

"But the shopkeepers did not vacate and instead approached various courts and were under litigation for more than five years. Following the recent vacation of all the stay orders and ending of litigation, we removed the shops," said Deep Mathur, MCD's director (Press and Information).

Echoed NDMC spokesperson Anand Tiwari: "As per the High Court order, November 26 was the last day for the shopkeepers to shift. Today, we demolished 22 shops falling in our jurisdiction."

"Till date, only one side of the road — from Jhandewalan to Rajiv Chowk — is open to traffic. Now, with clearing of the right of way, it is possible to construct road connecting Rajiv Chowk and Jhandewalan side,” Mathur said.