Bharuch: A major demolition drive was carried out by the Bharuch district administration early Wednesday morning at Hariratna Shopping Centre on Station Road, triggering a tense situation and protests from local trustees. The Bharuch District Panchayat, with support from the police and home guards, demolished 36 dilapidated shops and razed two unauthorised shrines, the Hazrat Balapir and Masumpir Bawa dargahs located within the shopping complex premises. Bharuch SDM Manisha Manani and District Panchayat officials supervised the demolition process. According to Mahendrasinh Vansdiya, President of the Bharuch District Panchayat, the demolition was part of a larger redevelopment plan under which a modern VVIP Rest House complex is proposed to be constructed in Bharuch, Rajpardi, Netrang, and Jambusar. In Bharuch, the facility is planned on the land of the old rest house and the Hariratna complex opposite the City Centre.