SDMC shuts 56 establishments in Vasant Kunj

Continuing with the sealing drive in the city, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) shut down 56 commercial establishments on Aruna Asaf Ali Road in Vasant Kunj including hotels and car showrooms including The Pluto Hotel , Poonam Villa, K Hotel, Hyundai, TATA, Ford, Mitsubishi and Maruti for "misuse" of residential premises for business and "encroachment" on government land.

The sealing exercise is being conducted on orders of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee to crackdown on "illegal" constrictions in the capital.

According to officials, the action was taken after Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officers present at the site confirmed that these shops and business establishments were encroaching on government land. The Building Department of South Zone, SDMC initiated the sealing exercise.

The total number of affected units including banquet halls, offices and workshops, however, will come around 200, as these were located inside the buildings sealed. The officials said most of these establishments were built on forest land.

The civic body had last month sealed over 34 shops on Chhattarpur-Bhati Road and 51 eateries and restaurants in the posh Defence Colony market.