New Delhi: A major demolition and rehabilitation drive was carried out on Sunday in three prominent slum clusters near the Racecourse in Lutyens’ Delhi. The action follows a decisive directive from the Delhi High Court, which ordered authorities to clear the area while ensuring the proper relocation and rehabilitation of the affected residents.
The security-sensitive land, located near the Prime Minister’s official residence, is being cleared to make way for critical defence and security infrastructure. The three specific slum areas being dismantled and relocated are the Bhai Ram camp, the DID camp, and the Masjid camp. According to senior officials, the land belongs to the central Land and Development Office, which is executing the drive in coordination with local administrative authorities.
To facilitate a smooth transition, the high court instructed officials to set up specialized camps at the designated rehabilitation sites to address any public grievances. The displaced families are being allocated alternative housing in the Narela area of North Delhi. While several residents have raised immediate concerns regarding the logistics of shifting, officials confirmed that administrative desks are actively working to resolve these issues on the spot.
Given the high-profile nature of the locality and the scale of the clearance, extensive security measures were implemented to prevent any disruption. A heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel alongside paramilitary forces was stationed across the site throughout the day to maintain law and order and ensure the drive concluded peacefully.
