Paving the way for the second phase of metro construction, the district administration on Monday demolished 29 shops earmarked as encroachments between the 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 the business owners, whose livelihoods will be affected by the administrative action.
Irate shopkeepers questioned the timing of the demolition drive, claiming that the action came hours before the High Court was scheduled to hear a plea regarding the land on which their establishments stood.
They are now seeking compensation and rehabilitation for the loss of livelihood, which they say will leave their families in grave financial distress.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Deepak Pandey, who led the demolition drive, said that compensation and rehabilitation for the shopkeepers will be provided in accordance with rules governing such matters.
Speaking to The Pioneer, SDM Pandey reiterated, "Compensation amounts for these establishments range between Rs 1.31 lakh and Rs 40 lakh. While the amount has been credited to the bank accounts of some of the business owners, the remaining will receive the funds as soon as they furnish their bank details."
The land where the encroachments had developed over the past decades belonged to the government, which had in turn leased it to Narmada Valley, a private firm, for the establishment of a now-defunct ice factory.
The private firm and the metro rail corporation are contesting a legal battle for control of the land in the High Court.
The demolition drive clears the way for the second phase of the metro, which will stretch across 8.77 kilometres, connecting Subhash Nagar Depot to Karond.
Faced with worsening traffic congestion and a rapidly growing number of deaths in road accidents, the city administration is now counting on a time-efficient, comfortable, and cost-efficient mass transport alternative for citizens.
Though unpopular, demolition drives have been a regular feature of the expanding metro rail footprint in the country.