29 businesses demolished to make way for the 2nd phase of the Metro

Paving the way for the second phase of metro construction, the district administration on Monday demolished 29 shops designated as encroachment between Alpana Talkies trisection and platform six of Bhopal Junction railway station.

Young Congress leader and Bhopal (North) legislator Atif Aqeel was present during the demolition exercise and apprised the administration of the concerns of business owners, whose livelihood will be affected by the administrative action.

Angry traders questioned the timing of the demolition drive, claiming the action came hours before the High Court was due to hear a statement on the land on which their shops stood.

They are now seeking compensation and rehabilitation for the loss of their livelihoods, which they say will leave their families in severe financial difficulties.

Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Deepak Pandey, who led the demolition drive, said compensation and rehabilitation will be provided to the traders in accordance with the rules governing such matters.

Speaking to The Pioneer, SDM Pandey reiterated, “The compensation amounts for these establishments range between Rs 1.31 lakh to Rs 40 lakh. While the amount has been credited in the bank accounts of some of the business owners, the rest will receive the funds as soon as possible as they provide their bank details.”

The land where the encroachments had taken place over the past few decades belonged to the government, which in turn had leased it to Narmada Valley, a private company, for the establishment of a now-defunct ice factory.

The private company and the metro company are fighting a legal battle for control of the land in the High Court.

The demolition drive paves the way for the second phase of the metro, which will stretch across 8.77 kilometers and connect Subhash Nagar Depot to Karond.

In the face of worsening traffic congestion and the rapid increase in the number of deaths in traffic accidents, the city administration now has a time-efficient, comfortable and profitable public transportation alternative for citizens.

Although unpopular, demolition campaigns have been a regular feature of the metro’s growing footprint in the country.