The demolition of the boundary wall of the Tiwari Hata complex began late Tuesday night as part of the 3.5-kilometre Heritage Corridor project, a key initiative led by chief minister Yogi Adityanath to boost urban development in Gorakhpur.

The Tiwari Hata property, once home to late politician Harishankar Tiwari, has recently gained renewed attention after the arrest of Samajwadi Party leader Vinay Shankar Tiwari in a money laundering case.

PWD executive engineer AK Singh said demolition is underway in areas marked by the Public Works Department as part of the road widening effort. Some residents are also voluntarily participating in the process.

The wall was obstructing traffic improvement work planned between Dharamshala Bazar and Ghantaghar, passing through areas such as Alinagar and Buxipur. The widened road will eventually measure 16.5 metres. One hundred and five long-time tenant traders now face eviction without compensation. Authorities clarified that only verified landowners would receive financial relief.

Former Samajwadi Party spokesperson Keerti Nidhi Pandey criticised the move, calling it politically driven.

Source: Hindustan Times