On Friday (May 8), the administration carried out a major demolition drive in Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar, one of the main urban centres of Chandauli district. The local office of the Samajwadi Party was demolished in the drive.
The action is part of an ongoing road widening project being carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) from Padhav to the Godhana bypass.
Officials have been removing structures built on government land along both sides of the road for more than a week. According to the administration, over 300 structures have been demolished so far. These include shops, commercial establishments, private houses, parts of mosques, and other constructions. The drive began only after marking the affected land and issuing notices to occupants.
Samajwadi Party Local Office Demolished
Officials said a portion of the local SP office building fell within the road widening limit and stood on government land.
Under heavy security, bulldozers moved in and brought down the affected part of the office. Within minutes, the structure turned into rubble. A large crowd gathered at the spot as police personnel remained deployed to prevent any disturbance. The demolition quickly became the centre of local political discussion.
Campaign Continues for More Than a Week
The demolition drive in Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar has been underway for more than a week. Many of the affected structures stood along the old GT Road and had existed there for decades.
As bulldozers reached shops and older buildings in the heart of the town, the area saw visible tension and activity. Administrative figures show that the campaign has already covered a wide range of constructions. Along with commercial properties, parts of private homes, college boundary walls, and religious structures have also come down.
Road Stretch from Padhav to Godhana Bypass Set for Change
The entire exercise aims to widen the road from Padhav, near the Varanasi border, to the Godhana bypass. The PWD had already measured the land and marked the affected areas on both the northern and southern sides of the road.
After the markings, many residents removed the encroachments on their own. But where structures remained, the administration used bulldozers. The demolition has affected the livelihood of several shopkeepers and local families. Even so, officials say the widening project will improve traffic movement and change the face of the town.
Notices Issued Before Action, Security Tightened
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anupam Mishra said the administration held meetings with traders before the demolition started. Officials also made public announcements and served notices to the affected people.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh said adequate police force remained deployed throughout the drive to maintain law and order. He added that many traders and local residents cooperated after the markings. However, structures falling within the widening range had to be removed to clear the road corridor.
