The Jaipur Development Authority began a demolition and anti-encroachment drive on New Sanganer Road on Monday to clear land marked for widening the corridor to about 160 feet under directions from the Rajasthan High Court.
The first phase covered nearly one kilometre from the Gurjar Ki Thadi side and focused on selected encroachments along pavements and road margins. Officials said the action targeted shop extensions, railings, staircases and similar projections, while main buildings and commercial establishments were not demolished during the operation.
A joint team from the JDA, Jaipur Municipal Corporation and Jaipur Commissionerate began the drive at about 8 am. The operation continued for almost four hours with police deployment and traffic restrictions in place. Traffic movement between Gurjar Ki Thadi and Vivek Vihar Metro station was regulated during the exercise.
Smaller vehicles were diverted through internal lanes and bylanes, while heavy vehicles were directed towards Gautam Marg and MJRP College Road. Officials at the site said encroachments associated with about 15 structures were removed during the day.
Anand Sharma, DIG of the JDA enforcement wing, said the action was limited and peaceful. “We have not demolished any buildings or shops. The drive went peacefully,” he said.
The operation is part of a wider process covering the stretch between Gurjar Ki Thadi and Sodala. The JDA has marked alleged encroachments linked to around 250 structures and issued notices to the affected properties. An enforcement official said large portions of several properties had already been marked as encroachments and would be considered in subsequent action.
The drive has also raised questions about how the affected properties were identified. Civil Lines MLA Gopal Sharma visited the site and questioned the demarcation process, saying some properties had been used for 40 to 50 years. “The action was being carried out under court orders, but how did JDA mark properties that have not violated any sanctioned plans?” Sharma asked.
The case brings together three immediate administrative issues: the implementation of a court-directed road-widening plan, the removal of long-standing projections from public margins and the management of traffic during enforcement. Monday’s operation remained limited to selected portions of the corridor, with officials indicating that further action could follow.
The JDA is required to submit a compliance report to the Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday. An enforcement official said the authority would prepare the report after reviewing Monday’s drive before the next round of proceedings.
