Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) cleared around 2,500sqft of public road in the Central Zone on Tuesday, demolishing a low-rise brick wall that had been erected by locals. The action came three days after Surat East BJP MLA Arvind Rana raised concerns about unauthorised constructions cropping up repeatedly across the city.An SMC team of 20, supported by two earth movers and two trucks, carried out the demolition, with security staff ensuring a smooth operation. The wall had been built by residents to prevent garbage dumping in the area, and the cleared space was also being used for vehicle parking.“The area is located between a hospital and a community hall. Nearby shops used to dump waste here, and after repeated complaints to the SMC went unheeded, residents built the wall to keep the space clean,” Rana told TOI.During the drive, the SMC team first removed nearby encroachments, including several roadside vendors, before demolishing the wall. The operation is part of a larger campaign against unauthorised structures and encroachments, which continued on Tuesday in Chauta Bazaar, where shop owners had extended sheds onto public roads.An SMC officer said, “The drive to remove encroachments was carried out in Chauta Bazaar and will continue. We are also targeting other unauthorised constructions across the city.”The campaign gained momentum after former city BJP president Nitin Bhajiyawala and other leaders highlighted the difficulties caused by encroachments in the historic walled city area and below flyover bridges, prompting the SMC to take action in multiple locations.
