Gurgaon: Eight enforcement teams simultaneously moved across colonies to implement on Saturday one of the biggest anti-encroachment drives the city has seen, demolishing hundreds of illegal house extensions violating right of way on the first day of a crackdown after Punjab and Haryana high court’s stay on the stilt-plus-four-floor (S+4) policy.The operation, described by officials as a “zero-tolerance, time-bound enforcement”, began from DLF Phase 1, followed by South City 1, Palam Vihar, Sushant Lok, Rosewood City, Malibu Town and Sohna Road sectors.The action follows an April 16 directive issued by additional chief secretary (town and country planning) Anurag Aggarwal, mandating all agencies to clear encroachments from road right of way (RoW) and submit compliance reports by April 22.District town planner (enforcement) Amit Madholia monitored all eight teams and led the demolition in DLF Phase 1. From early morning, bulldozers rolled through Bodhi Marg, Arjun Marg, Paschim Marg, C-15 Road and key stretches near Safal and Mother Dairy, clearing what officials described as “years of accumulated encroachment”.Around 70-75 guard rooms, constructed as porta cabins or brick structures, were demolished. More than 120 houses saw complete clearance of encroachments, ranging from temporary sheds and boundary extensions to lights, signage and other fixtures. Authorities also removed green belt encroachments outside over 80 houses.Commercial violations were not spared. Between six and eight illegal kiosks were demolished in the DLF 1 shopping complex, while two permanent corner structures at Arjun Marg Chowk, allegedly built by private management, were razed. Encroachments outside Safal and Mother Dairy outlets were also cleared entirely.“This is not symbolic action — this is full-scale enforcement,” Madholia told TOI on the ground. “We deliberately started from DLF 1 to send a clear signal. Whether it is a small extension or a permanent structure, if it falls within the RoW, it will be removed. There will be no exceptions.”He added that authorities had already appealed to residents to voluntarily remove encroachments. “Where that has not happened, teams are taking action. The objective is to restore original road width and ensure public space is not compromised. This drive will continue across all licensed colonies,” Madholia said.While DLF 1 saw the most visible action, seven other teams carried out parallel demolitions across the city.In South City 1, teams removed 28 guard rooms, 20 illegal labour quarters and toilets, 12 unauthorised gates and multiple shop extensions. Encroachments on parks and green belts were cleared at over 30 locations.Palam Vihar witnessed one of the largest sweeps, with over 100 illegal structures removed. These included 24 guard rooms, 50 boundary wall encroachments, 60 fencing violations, eight gates, six tin sheds and five toilets built on road space.In Sushant Lok 3, teams cleared 24 guard rooms, five barrier gates and nearly 50 instances of green landscaping spilling onto roads. Ramps, steps and boundary wall extensions were also demolished.Rosewood City saw the removal of 30-plus guard rooms, 40 ramps and steps, and close to 30 park encroachments. Similar action unfolded in Malibu Town, where guard rooms, barricading, DG sets and ramps were dismantled.In Suncity (Sector 54), teams demolished parking sheds, guard rooms and over two dozen green area encroachments, while in RD City and adjoining areas, porta cabins, shops, ramps and fencing violations were cleared.While some residents welcomed the move as long overdue, others questioned the sudden intensity of enforcement. “Roads had become unusable in many areas. This was necessary,” said a DLF resident. Another resident in South City said, “Action is fine, but clearer notices should have been given.”With a hard deadline of April 22 and teams working simultaneously across zones, officials indicated that the drive will intensify further in the coming days.A senior official had earlier said the state is under clear judicial pressure to act. “This is not routine enforcement. The court has set the tone, and the administration is expected to deliver visible, time-bound results on the ground,” the official said.
