GURUGRAM: Banjara Market near Golf Course Road, which is a popular shopping destination for those looking to buy decorative items and furniture, will cease to be operational soon.
The market had come up over HSVP land after a series of encroachments in sectors 45, 53 and 57. To free up the land from encroachers, the authority is planning to carry out a massive demolition drive this week. The HSVP had sought the deployment of a police force to maintain law and order during the drive.
Nearly 25 acres of HSVP land has been encroached upon by Banjara Market and an adjoining slum wherein people with shops in the market live. The slums came up on land close to the yard of rapid metro in the last 10-15 years. The number of jhuggis increased over time and they started shops in the service road of the stretch between Botanical Garden crossing and Golf Course Road. The shops started coming up on this stretch in the past 7-8 years. The market eventually gained popularity among Gurugram residents.
According to HSVP officials, the “land mafias” have encroached upon the authority’s land in sectors 45, 53 and 57. “Muscle-men from adjoining villages have encroached on these areas and set up jhuggis and shops. They leased out these spaces and earned huge monthly rents,” said an HSVP official, adding that in the past, the authority carried out a demolition drive but the shops started coming up again.
SDO (survey) Satyanarayan said they have prepared a plan to clear the lands from encroachers. “We are preparing a plan for the area. Following that, the land will be put for auction,” said the SDO, adding that these are prime areas worth several crores.
MCG councillor Mahesh Dayma said the encroachments in the illegal market have become a nuisance for the area and they put additional pressure on civic infrastructure. “They defecate in the open and create a nuisance. Due to this, the traffic is always congested in the area as people visiting these markets park their vehicles on the road,” said Dayma, adding that the area has also become a den of illegal activities.
Dayma said he has raised the issue with the chief minister as well as in MCG house meetings on several occasions. “The removal of encroachments will clean the area and it will be a relief for the residents,” said Dayma.
However, reports of the market shutting down disappointed many residents. “It was one of the popular destinations. We used to visit this place to buy decorative items and furniture. The collection is usually not available in regular markets,” said Rashi Khurana, a resident of Sector 56. She added that the city needs to have areas for street vendors. “Besides the malls, the city needs such markets and the government should designate some places for them and regularise it.
