Dwarka Sees Highest Number of DDA Demolition Drives in Delhi With 260 Operations
Dwarka recorded the highest number of demolition drives across the national capital between 2023 and 2025, with the Delhi Development Authority conducting 260 drives in the area as part of a citywide crackdown that reclaimed nearly 2,719 acres of land. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs presented these figures in the Rajya Sabha on Monday in response to a parliamentary question sought by MP Imran Pratapgarhi.
Across Delhi, the DDA carried out a total of 1,116 demolition drives over the three-year period. The engineering wing conducted 600 of these drives, reclaiming around 1,445 acres, while the land management department executed 516 drives to free approximately 1,274 acres of encroached land.
Dwarka led all zones in the total number of anti-encroachment operations, followed by East Delhi with 206 drives and Rohini with 70. Other areas saw fewer operations, including South Delhi with 27 drives, North Delhi with 26, and Narela with 11. However, East Delhi accounted for the largest total reclaimed area, covering over 5.33 million square metres.
According to the DDA, the reclaimed properties encompassed government land, footpaths, agricultural areas, green belts, boundary walls, roadside parking, temporary shops, and street hawkers. The agency stated that notices were duly given or pasted at sites prior to carrying out the drives in compliance with rules and court orders. The parliamentary reply noted that the figures did not specify the total number of residential and commercial structures demolished or the total number of families displaced during this period.
During the same timeframe, rehabilitation measures were undertaken for eligible beneficiaries under the applicable Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation scheme. A total of 1,800 families from the Bhoomiheen camp were allotted Economically Weaker Section flats at A-14, Kalkaji Extension. Additionally, 1,360 families from areas including Jailorwala Bagh, Mata Jai Kaur, and Golden Park were shifted to Swabhiman Apartment in Ashok Vihar. Recent demolition drives were also noted at locations such as Taimoor Nagar, Madrasi Camp, Wazirpur, Burari, and Ashok Vihar.
To streamline enforcement, the DDA issued a standard operating procedure on July 12 for its flying squad teams and quick response teams. The policy mandates the demolition of unauthorised constructions within 72 hours of detection and deploys 14 flying squad teams across DDA zones to perform regular inspections, verify land ownership, and upload geo-tagged documentation using date and time stamps alongside drone surveillance.
