The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has removed around 42 structures built over an existing drain in Raghubir Nagar’s B-1 and K blocks, reclaiming 505 square metres of land and clearing the way for a proposed new drainage system.
The demolition was carried out by the MCD’s West Zone team in coordination with the Delhi Police in Ward 94. According to the civic body, the structures had obstructed construction of the proposed drain, a project to be funded through the Chief Minister’s Development Fund.
The MCD said several multi-storey structures had been built over the existing drain and prevented construction work from proceeding. The corporation had issued multiple notices asking for the removal of the encroachments and clearance of the project area, but the structures remained in place before the enforcement action was taken.
During the operation, MCD field staff, assisted by police personnel, removed structures occupying the drain and adjoining land. The civic body said the clearance of 505 square metres would allow the next stage of the drainage project to proceed. It did not, however, specify when construction of the new drain would begin.
The action highlights the operational difficulty civic agencies face when public infrastructure corridors are occupied or built over. In this case, the existing drain was not merely an open civic asset but also the alignment for a proposed replacement or upgraded drainage system, according to the MCD’s account. Until the encroachments were removed, the corporation said construction could not move forward.
The clearance is part of the MCD’s enforcement effort against unauthorised occupation of public land and obstructions to essential infrastructure projects. The corporation said the operation concluded peacefully with the cooperation of police personnel and field staff. Details about the drainage design, construction agency, project cost and completion schedule have not been announced in the supplied report.
The next confirmed step is for the MCD to proceed with the proposed drainage work after the site has been cleared. The civic body has yet to announce the construction start date or the expected completion timeline for the project.
