Ahmedabad, May 14 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) collected around Rs 8.39 lakh in penalties during a week-long citywide drive against illegal encroachments and traffic obstructions, as civic authorities intensified action across major roads, highways and commercial areas in all seven municipal zones.

According to the AMC’s Estate Department, the enforcement campaign was carried out to ease traffic congestion and improve movement on public roads across Ahmedabad.

During the operation conducted over the past week, authorities removed a large number of illegal structures, roadside stalls, advertisement boards and parked vehicles from busy junctions and key stretches across the city.

The corporation stated that penalties amounting to Rs 8,39,900 were recovered during the drive. As part of the action, AMC teams removed 685 handcarts and roadside stalls from public roads.

Civic officials also dismantled 253 illegal sheds and removed 915 tarpaulin structures erected without permission.

In addition, 1,974 advertisement boards installed along public roads and around 4,885 miscellaneous items occupying public spaces were seized during the operation.

The corporation also undertook action against vehicles parked illegally on roads and highways.

During the week, 1,133 vehicles were wheel-locked, fines were collected from 1,145 vehicle owners and 10 vehicles were towed away.

In the western parts of the city, encroachment removal drives were conducted in areas including Golden Triangle, Stadium Cross Roads, Swastik Cross Roads, Panchvati Five Roads, Parimal Garden Underpass, Naranpura Cross Roads, Ankur Cross Roads and Shastrinagar.

In the North West Zone, the operation covered roads from Damru Circle in Ghatlodia to Chanakyapuri Road and the Gujarat High Court complex.

Action was also carried out along Judges Bungalow Road, Pakwan Crossroads, Mansi Circle, Keshavbaug, ISKCON Crossroads, Thaltej, and Vaishnodevi Circle.

In the South West Zone, AMC teams removed encroachments from the Kanyug Cross Roads-Shyamal Cross Roads stretch, along the Prahladnagar-SG Highway corridor and from Iskcon Circle to Ujala Circle.

The civic body also carried out enforcement drives in the East Zone, covering Hastinapur, Hatkeshwar Circle Road, Rabari Colony, Nikol, Soni ni Chali, Sarangpur Bridge and the Thakkarbapanagar-Jashodanagar stretch.

In the Central Zone, operations were conducted around Jamalpur Flower Market, APMC Market, Geeta Mandir, Kalupur Railway Station, Prem Darwaza, Delhi Darwaza and Manek Chowk.

The North Zone drive covered areas from Memco to Kubernagar, including Hirawadi BRTS, Naroda Gam and New Naroda, while in the South Zone, action was undertaken along Piplaj Pirana Road, Sejpur, PD Pandya College Road, Govindwadi, Isanpur, Ghodasar Canal Road, Hatkeshwar and CTM Cross Roads.

The Estate Department urged property owners, traders and motorists not to occupy public roads or highways illegally.

The corporation stated that strict enforcement of encroachment regulations would continue in the coming weeks.

–IANS

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