Delhi Development Authority (DDA), backed by a sizeable police force, razed over two dozen homes along Loni Road without prior notice, leaving families devastated. The residents, many of whom claim to have lived in the area for more than four decades, expressed outrage over what they called an “unjust” and “inhumane” demolition drive carried out without proper resettlement or warning.
The demolished structures, mostly informal dwellings, stood near the Loni Gol Chakkar and were cited as obstacles in the delayed Loni underpass project, which aims to improve traffic movement in the area. However, residents say that they had been assured by local political representatives and officials that any action would be deferred until alternative housing was secured.Natto Devi, a 40-year-old woman who was born and raised in the locality, shared how residents were told earlier this year that no demolition would take place for at least six months. “We met with the local MP and even approached the Chief Minister’s office. They promised that we would not be moved until resettlement was arranged. But now, everything is gone,” she said, her voice filled with disbelief.
Witnesses at the site described scenes of chaos and confusion. Many said they were not allowed enough time to collect their belongings. “They came early in the morning with bulldozers. Before we could understand what was happening, our houses were being torn down. The police hit us when we tried to go back in to get our things,” another resident recounted.Some residents also claimed that even the tarpaulin sheets used to shield their makeshift homes were confiscated. With monsoon rains looming and no shelter provided, the affected families have been left exposed and vulnerable.
Suresh Singh, a 60-year-old who had lived in the settlement since the 1980s, said, “For three years, we’ve been told that our names are on a list for resettlement. Nothing has come of it. And now they’ve even stopped us from pitching temporary tents. Where are we supposed to go?”The demolition comes as part of a broader effort to clear obstructions from the proposed underpass site at Loni Gol Chakkar. The ₹70-crore infrastructure project has already faced multiple delays due to encroachments, pending clearances, and administrative hurdles. Officials from the Public Works Department had flagged the settlement as a key obstruction in their April report.
Despite the scale of the action, the DDA did not issue a public statement. Queries seeking comment on the eviction process and lack of resettlement provisions have gone unanswered.The incident has sparked political backlash. Former Delhi Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Atishi publicly criticised the move, calling it “a demolition of dignity and dreams.” She visited residents of another threatened JJ cluster in Deoli the same day, promising that her party would “stand firmly with the poor in their struggle against bulldozer politics.”
The BJP, which governs the Centre and oversees the DDA, declined to respond to the allegations. However, the silence has only deepened concerns over Delhi’s increasingly aggressive approach to informal housing, particularly in a city already reeling from rising displacement figures.The Gokalpur demolition follows similar eviction drives in Kalkaji, Taimoor Nagar, Wazirpur, Burari and other vulnerable clusters. These efforts are often justified under the guise of infrastructure development or encroachment removal, but critics argue that they disproportionately affect low-income communities without offering sustainable alternatives.
While the city’s infrastructure push is seen as essential for long-term urban mobility and decongestion, it remains clear that a humane and equitable housing strategy is missing. Without mechanisms to rehabilitate the displaced, Delhi risks building its future on the debris of its most marginalised citizens.
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