Ahmedabad, Aug 8 — The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) removed 708 handcarts and stalls and cleared thousands of other illegal encroachments from public roads, footpaths and highways during an intensive 15-day drive across the city, collecting Rs 8.62 lakh in administrative fines for violations, officials said on Saturday.
The Estate Department carried out the crackdown across all seven AMC zones between July 24 and August 7, targeting encroachments that were obstructing public roads and affecting the movement of traffic.
The drive also resulted in the removal of 313 illegal sheds and 1,066 tarpaulins, while 1,987 advertisement boards installed on public roads and around 5,196 other miscellaneous items were seized or removed.
The civic body also took action against illegally parked vehicles during the campaign. A total of 1,159 vehicles were locked, while 10 vehicles were towed away.
The department also removed 35 permanent structures that had been constructed on roads.
In the West Zone, the operation covered Golden Triangle, Stadium Char Rasta, Swastik Char Rasta, Panchvati Five Roads, Parimal Garden underpass, Naranpura Char Rasta, Ankur Char Rasta and Shastrinagar.
In the North-West Zone, officials acted along the route from Damru Circle in Ghatlodia towards Chanakyapuri Road and the Gujarat High Court complex, besides Judges Bungalow Road, Pakwan Char Rasta, Mansi Circle, Keshavbaug, ISKCON Char Rasta, Thaltej and Vaishnodevi Circle.
The South-West Zone saw action from Canyug Char Rasta to Shyamal Char Rasta, Prahladnagar and the SG Highway area, as well as along the road from ISKCON Circle to Ujala Circle. In the East Zone, teams covered Hastinapur, Hatkeshwar Circle Road, Rabari Colony, Nikol, Sonini Chali, Sarangpur Bridge and the stretch from Thakkarbapanagar to Jashodanagar.
In the Central Zone, the drive covered Jamalpur Flower Market, APMC Market, Geeta Mandir, Kalupur Railway Station, Prem Darwaja, Delhi Darwaja and Manek Chowk. In the North Zone, action was taken from Memco to Kubernagar, Hirawadi BRTS, Naroda village and New Naroda.
The South Zone operation covered Piplaj-Pirana Road, Saijpur, P.D. Pandya College Road, Govindwadi, Isanpur, Ghodasar Canal Road, Hatkeshwar and CTM Cross Road.
The AMC Estate Department has appealed to property owners, traders, shopkeepers and vehicle owners not to create illegal encroachments on public roads and highways.
The civic body said that intensive action against encroachments obstructing public roads would continue in the coming days.