The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) said it will carry out a drive from Monday to demolish “illegal encroachments” along the banks of the Aji river that divides the city into eastern and western parts. The civic body aims to clear over 1,489 “illegal structures” spread over 36,000 square metres along the 4.6 km stretch of the river banks, making it the largest such exercise in the Saurashtra region. Police have also taken stringent measures for the demolition drive, including deployment of nearly 3,000 personnel led by a DIG and 11 ACPs, declaring the city a no drone fly zone and prohibiting the assembly of four or more people in public spaces. The Rajkot city administration plans to build Aji Riverfront along the lines of the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad. In June 2025, the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation demolished 600 illegal structures along the Rangmati, one of two rivers that flows through Jamnagar – the other being Nagmati. A riverfront project is planned in Jamnagar as well. The RMC plans to demolish 992 structures, mainly residential buildings, …