Gujarat University initiated a drive to clear encroachments on a key road leading to the university campus, LD Engineering college campus, Knowledge Consortium campus, Innovation hub, Girls Polytechnic, Physical Research Laboratory, ATIRA, and the Vice Chancellor’s bungalow, among other places.
The road, owned by the university but open to the public, has been overrun by dozens of food stalls set up in a shanty-style on one side of the footpath. The vehicles of customers, parked on the roadside, further exacerbate the encroachment, forcing students to walk on the road.
The presence of these food stalls not only mars the aesthetics of the area but also raises concerns about littering, garbage disposal, and the unhealthy and unhygienic nature of the fast food being sold. Operating until late at night, these stalls attract not just students but also individuals who have no affiliation with the university or other institutions on this road.
Despite the availability of canteens at the University, LD Engineering, and Girls’ Polytechnic, which offer food at affordable prices to budget-conscious students, these food stalls continue to thrive.
In light of these issues, the new Vice Chancellor has spearheaded efforts to remove these stalls. The university deployed its private security personnel, equipped with necessary open vehicles, to remove the encroachments. As the area falls outside the jurisdiction of the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the university took it upon itself to vacate the land, despite facing confrontation from the food stall owners.
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