Delhi Development Authority launches 72‑hour anti‑encroachment enforcement squads

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) following Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu’s directive for zero‑tolerance of land encroachment in New Delhi. The SOP creates 14 Flying Squad Teams and four Quick Response Teams to conduct systematic field inspections, use drone‑based surveillance, and integrate the Vacant Land Monitoring System (VLMS) for real‑time verification of government land.

The teams are mandated to demolish any unauthorised construction within 72 hours of detection, documenting violations with geo‑tagged photographs and video. Quick Response Teams will file demolition reports with before‑and‑after images on the same day, and continuous monitoring will aim to prevent re‑encroachment.