Gurugram, Aug. 22 -- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) started a demolition drive on Thursday in which five to six structures were demolished by the team composed of NHAI officials along with officials from the district administration and police. The drive was conducted to clear the land required for construction of the six-laned road, and metro rail on the 3 kilometres stretch between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bhardwaj Chowk. As per the highway officials, the demolition drive started from Hero Honda Chowk where a hotel cum commercial complex, which had been partially razed earlier by the owner, was demolished by the authorities using earth movers. "The demolition is being carried out on the main carriageway of the highway project and the entire acquisition process has been carried out by the highway authority. Compensation has been announced by the district administration and there is no stay from the court on the structures being demolished," said Rohtash Singh, tehsildar Pataudi, who was appointed the duty magistrate by the district administration. The highway officials, however, faced protests and resistance when they started demolishing a double storey house on the edge of Saraswati enclave colony. Santosh Devi, owner of the house said, "We have not got any notice for the demolition and there has been no demarcation carried out by the NHAI officials. The demolition team has damaged the structure while people are still inside the house. We have not taken any compensation to vacate the house," she said. Dinesh Khanna, the owner of the hotel complex also said that he had not been paid compensation, and notice for demolition was not served. To be sure, NHAI acquires land under the NHAI Act 1966 (amended in 2013) by first notifying intent (3A), hearing objections, and then issuing a final declaration (3D) that vests the land with the government. After survey and evaluation, compensation is awarded and disbursed through the district revenue collector, following which possession is taken. Disputes on compensation can be challenged through arbitration or in court. When asked about the matter, Daksh Lohan, an NHAI official said that the acquisition of the land and structures was carried out in 2023 and an award for compensation was also announced by the highway authority. "We have followed all norms for acquisition of land and structures. Around 20 structures have to be demolished and none have any stay from the court," he said. "The proposed Gurugram Metro line will pass through this land and the road has to be widened to six lanes for clearing the encroachments," said NHAI officials adding that the project was conceived in 2021 but due to non-availability of land and encroachments, the construction could not be started by the highway authority....