GHAZIABAD — A 15-year-old roadside mazar was demolished during an anti-encroachment drive in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district on Saturday, as authorities continued efforts to remove structures allegedly standing on public land and obstructing traffic movement.
The action took place in the Loni area, where district authorities launched a special campaign aimed at easing congestion and clearing encroachments from roads and public spaces.
Officials said the demolished structure was located on the busy Loni-Bhopura Road, opposite the Loni Block office, and had become part of the wider anti-encroachment operation being carried out in the area.
The demolition was conducted using bulldozers under the supervision of administrative officials and in the presence of a large police deployment.
According to officials, the operation was part of a broader effort to make key roads in Loni free from congestion and ensure smoother movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
Authorities stated that the structure had been standing on public land and was identified during a survey of alleged encroachments along the route.
An official associated with the drive said the objective was to remove obstacles affecting traffic flow and reclaim government land for public use.
The administration maintained that the action was carried out in accordance with the anti-encroachment campaign being implemented in the area.
Officials said the removal of structures located on roadsides was necessary to improve accessibility and reduce traffic bottlenecks.
Residents said the mazar had existed at the location for around 15 years and had become a familiar landmark for many people travelling through the area.
The demolition of the structure attracted attention among locals, some of whom expressed surprise at the action due to the length of time the mazar had stood at the site.
However, authorities stressed that the operation was focused on clearing public land and was not directed at any particular community.
The administration has not reported any major law-and-order issues during or after the operation.
Given the sensitive nature of the demolition, authorities deployed a substantial police force at the site.
Senior police and administrative officers remained present throughout the operation to monitor the situation and ensure that the drive was completed without incident.
Police personnel maintained a security presence in the surrounding area before, during and after the demolition.
Officials said the arrangements were made as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents and maintain public order.
The administration described the operation as peaceful and said the demolition was completed without any disruption.
Following the action, police continued to monitor the locality to ensure that normal conditions prevailed.
Authorities said security personnel remained alert in the area to prevent rumours or any attempts to disturb communal harmony.
Officials reiterated that the anti-encroachment campaign would continue in accordance with legal procedures and would target structures identified as occupying public land unlawfully.
The demolition forms part of a broader drive being undertaken by authorities in several areas to remove alleged encroachments from roads, government land and public spaces.
District officials said such operations are intended to improve civic infrastructure, facilitate traffic movement and reclaim land meant for public use.
The latest action in Loni has once again brought attention to the challenges faced by authorities when removing long-standing structures, particularly those that hold religious significance for local communities.
While the administration has defended the demolition as a necessary step to clear public land and ease traffic congestion, the removal of the mazar has become a subject of discussion among residents in the area.
