Jharkhand High Court directive spurs demolition of basement shops in Jamshedpur

JNAC initiates enforcement action to remove unauthorized structures

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, May 9: In compliance with a directive from the High Court, the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) has commenced the demolition of 25 shops operating in the basement of Shatabdi Tower near Sakchi roundabout. These shops, originally designated for parking, had been flouting regulations, leading to traffic congestion as vehicles were forced to park on the roadside.

The enforcement team of JNAC, led by BN Choudhary and Anup Kumar Chatterjee, arrived at the Sakchi SNP area at 11:45 am to begin the demolition process. Due to the limited accessibility for heavy machinery, laborers were employed to carry out the demolition. Prior to the demolition, the power supply to Shatabdi Tower was disconnected, and vehicles stored in the basement were instructed to be removed. The demolition process, overseen by JNAC Engineer MK Pradhan, SDO Sanjay Singh, Magistrate, Assistant Engineer Ramesh Bhagat, and Sakchi Police, continued until 4:30 pm, with plans for further demolition on Thursday to complete the task.

The sealing of the Shatabdi Tower basement on 16 March 2011, following a court order, marked the initial step towards addressing the unauthorized use of the space. Despite the sealing, the basement shops remained operational, prompting further action. The recent demolition efforts have been initiated following the court’s intervention and are part of a broader campaign to enforce municipal regulations.

Parking vehicles in the Shatabdi Tower basement is expected to alleviate traffic congestion near Sakchi roundabout, which had been exacerbated by the unauthorized commercial activities in the area.

In a related development, concerns have been raised regarding the unauthorized establishment of shops and stalls for buying and selling old vehicles in the Sakchi parking lot. Despite complaints from local residents, the proliferation of such activities had continued unabated, contributing to congestion and inconvenience in the area.

Residents allege that the encroachment in the parking lot initially began with the parking of scrapped vehicles, gradually evolving into a hub for trading four-wheelers. Despite complaints lodged with relevant authorities, no action had been taken, leading to frustration among the affected community members.

In response to mounting concerns, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Jamshedpur NAC reiterated that the parking lot was designated solely for vehicle parking purposes, affirming that trading activities would not be permitted. The authorities are expected to take further action to address the encroachment issue and restore order in the area.