Ludhiana: Descendants of one of the most revered freedom fighters have accused local authorities of “stalling” the demolition of buildings blocking a new commemorative entrance to his birthplace, just weeks before his birth anniversary.Members of the All-India Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust met with municipal commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta on Wednesday, expressing formal grievances over the slow progress of work in the Naughara Mohalla. The trust is racing to secure direct access from the busy Chaura Bazaar to the ancestral home of Sukhdev Thapar, who was executed alongside Bhagat Singh and Rajguru in 1931. With the freedom movement hero’s birth anniversary falling on May 15, descendants had expected the project to be completed in time for public tributes.“For a long time, we have fought to provide direct access to the birthplace of Shaheed-e-Azam Sukhdev Thapar,” said Ashok Thapar, national president of the trust. “The project is in its final stages, but significant obstacles remain.”Structural risksWhile the Punjab govt has acquired the necessary properties for the thoroughfare, the demolition process has been fraught with technical difficulties. Because the surrounding structures in the historic mohalla are centuries old, crews have been forced to dismantle buildings manually to avoid a domino effect of collapses. Despite these precautions, a nearby heritage building recently gave way.Officials have reportedly assured the affected property owner — who surrendered eight square yards of land for the project — that they will be compensated for the collateral damage.Illegal structuresBeyond the demolition delays, the trust identified several illegal encroachments near the Punjab National Bank street entrance. “Many shopkeepers have illegally occupied and blocked the road,” Ashok Thapar said. “An illegal room has even been built on the road in Mohalla Naughara without any government documentation. These must be removed immediately so devotees face no obstacles.”The trust warned that if the path remains blocked by debris or illegal shops, it will hinder the public’s ability to honor Thapar’s contribution to the independence movement. MC commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta was unavailable for comment despite multiple attempts to reach her office on Wednesday.MSID:: 130284558 413 |
