Jaipur: For 70-plus Vimla Devi, the red line across her New Sanganer Road home is not just a demolition mark; it is a second displacement notice. But across the 4.5 km widening stretch, residents allege, JDA’s paint has not fallen evenly — properties in Congress-held areas face major cuts while several BJP-linked pockets appear spared or lightly touched — fuelling charges of political bias, arbitrary demarcation and selective action now headed for court.
JDA accused of bias in New Sanganer road demolition drive
JDA accused of bias in New Sanganer road demolition drive
“If they break this, only one room will remain. My four sons and daughters-in-law run shops from here. We will lose the roof and the roti together,” Vimla Devi said.
JDA accused of bias in New Sanganer road demolition drive
JDA accused of bias in New Sanganer road demolition drive
Across the road, Archana Balodiya sees the same paint slicing through her garment shop and her doctor husband’s clinic. During the 2001 Pink Operation, her family surrendered ten feet for widening. “Our JDA patta shows a 40-foot road. Today they are treating it as 160 feet. I paid Rs 3 lakh municipal tax last year. What is the value of papers if one line can condemn everything?”
New Sanganer Road residents see red as JDA sets out on ‘arbitrary’ road widening drive
New Sanganer Road residents see red as JDA sets out on ‘arbitrary’ road widening drive
The widening drive covers 3.3 km from Ajmer Road crossing in Sodala to Gurjar Ki Thadi on Gopalpura Bypass. Residents say more than 800 buildings line the stretch, but only about 250 have been marked, fuelling allegations of selective action.
New Sanganer Road residents see red as JDA sets out on ‘arbitrary’ road widening drive
New Sanganer Road residents see red as JDA sets out on ‘arbitrary’ road widening drive
Sitaram Mehra, newly elected Congress councillor from Ward 91, alleged that markings have fallen mainly in Congress-held wards, while similar structures in neighbouring BJP wards were spared. “JDA identified buildings on one side at some stretches and spared the other side. The demarcation came after the Sept 14 poll results,” he said.DC Zone C Hemant Kumar – who is leading the operation – was not available for comment.On Tuesday, red arrows and figures marked alleged encroached widths from the road edge. Yet nearby, the house of newly elected deputy mayor Saroj Kanwar in Ward 90 remained unmarked, even as many other roadside buildings there also bore no paint.Kanwar’s husband – BJP worker and president of the local traders’ association Ranjeet Singh Sodala – said that he is trying to figure out on what basis JDA is marking the demarcations. “I am yet not sure about the calculation and the way JDA is marking the encroachments. We are moving court. In fact, the deputy mayor has sought time from the chief minister to discuss on the possible remedies and compensation issues,” stated Singh.Pawan Sahu, chairperson of New Sanganer Traders Association, said traders would seek a court stay. “JDA issued notices on Sunday and gave only six days. We have time till Saturday to save our walls,” he said.For families here, now the red line is not a mark. It is a question of survival.
