Turkman Gate roads shops reopen after demolition drive

Restrictions Lifted Around Turkman Gate After Demolition Drive

After four days of heavy restrictions and barricading around Turkman Gate, all roads in the area, including Asaf Ali Road, were reopened to traffic on Saturday. This followed a High Court authorized demolition drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

The lifting of restrictions restored a sense of normalcy, with locals reopening their shops and returning to their usual routines. However, a strong police presence remained near the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque, where the MCD demolished a community hall, guest rooms, and a dispensary, all allegedly built illegally.

The demolition drive led to a clash between the police and locals, who were accused of pelting stones. On Saturday, two more individuals were arrested, bringing the total number of arrests to 16.

Local Reactions to the Demolition

Local vendor Mohammed Alam stated that the road and market closures made things difficult. “I suffered losses, but at least things are slowly returning to normal,” he said.

Residents expressed concern over the demolition of the nearby dispensary, which many relied on for affordable healthcare. Fareek Syed, 28, who recently became a father, mentioned he had to take leave from work to take his wife, Sana, 24, to a clinic in south Delhi on Friday. “The dispensary that was demolished was close by and very helpful for regular check-ups,” Sana said.

MCD Official’s Statement

A senior MCD official stated that a small portion of the demolished dispensary, next to the mosque wall, was left untouched to avoid damage to the religious site. “We will issue a notice to the mosque committee to remove the remaining part on their own,” he said.

Details of the Demolition Drive

The demolition drive cleared nearly 36,428 square feet of land, which will be handed over to the Horticulture Department for beautification and future development. The MCD official noted that around 500 truckloads of debris have been cleared from the site since Wednesday, with nearly 70 heavy-duty vehicles deployed for the operation. “The debris was transported to waste processing facilities in Burari, Ranikhera, Shastri Park, and Bakkarwala,” he added, noting that the land would likely be redeveloped into a park as part of the Ramlila Ground.