As Ahmedabad gears up to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, a land conflict has erupted in Baldevnagar, a densely populated settlement adjoining the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera. Residents say that an abrupt demolition drive by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on 29 November 2025 has rendered long-settled families homeless, even as the civic body maintains that the action is part of a long-pending Town Planning (TP) scheme 1984.
The dispute centres on the widening of a 24.38-metre road to 30 metres under the TP Scheme No. 23 (Sabarmati). The stretch, linking the Ahmedabad–Mehsana Highway to the Sabarmati River, is considered crucial for future sports infrastructure. Locals fear that nearly 2,500 homes around the stadium may eventually be razed, with more than 700 structures identified in the first phase, including 29 in Baldevnagar, as reported by the ETV.
For many, the demolition came without adequate warning. Residents told the BBC Gujarati that they woke up early in the morning to bulldozers outside their doors and barely had an hour to gather their belongings. "These houses were built when the wage was three rupees. The government destroyed our 60 years of labour in a single hour," 70-year-old Ratanben Rathod told the BBC.
The demolition also went ahead while petitions were pending in the Gujarat High Court. Jagdish Vaniya, whose family lost two houses and a shop, said the court had granted them time until 1 December 2025 to appeal before a division bench. “But AMC demolished the houses before the next hearing,” he alleged, calling it an attempt to pre-empt a possible stay.
In November 2025, the Gujarat High Court's Division Bench dismissed the appeal of 29 residents of Achar village in Baldevnagar area of Sabarmati and upheld the single judge's verdict dated 14 November, which deemed legal the AMC's notice to vacate houses that came under the 24-metre wide road under the 1984 Town Planning Scheme.
Residents say the biggest blow was the lack of viable rehabilitation. Harish Rathod, who has moved the High Court, said AMC is offering only 1 BHK unit, which he says cannot house families of seven to eight members. Renting in the neighbourhood is unaffordable for daily-wage workers, with landlords demanding deposits equal to two months’ rent. Many families have temporarily stored their belongings in neighbours’ homes as they search for shelter. Some allege that the demolitions are being fast-tracked to clear land for upcoming international sports events.
Meanwhile, AMC denied all allegations of haste or negligence. In a press release, the corporation said the 29 structures were removed to ease “pressure” on the TP Road. Deputy Estate Officer of AMC’s West Zone told BBC Gujarati that residents had been “given adequate time” to retrieve their belongings. On rehabilitation, he said that evidence of eligibility has been sought and that only qualified beneficiaries would receive alternative housing.
According to a report by the Bhaskar, AMC said that the TP scheme was finalised in 1984. However, the original private owner of the land, Somaji, had divided it into plots and sold them to people without registered sale deeds. The High Court further stated that residents can file a civil suit against the original owner since neither the original owner nor they opposed the TP scheme.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for rehabilitation
Demand for compensation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Other, Other, Case Laws, Case Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Gujarat High Court
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Mahanagar Seva Sadan, Estate and Urban Development Department; Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
