India, Dec. 30 -- The Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) on Monday demolished 61 shops in the Sector 33 marble market amid strong protests by traders, officials said. The demolition drive was carried out to vacate land that has been allotted for construction of the proposed Gurugram metro depot.

HSVP officials said the shops were illegal as the traders had neither got their building plans approved nor obtained occupation certificates. The marble market traders, however, termed the action unjust and alleged that the alternative site proposed for relocation is yet to be developed.

Officials said a demolition team led by sub divisional officer (SDO) survey, Gyan Chand Saini, reached the marble market around 12pm, following which trad...