Jammu, June 17 (AHN) Jammu Development Authority (JDA) on Wednesday reclaimed encroached land worth Rs 10 crore near the railway station in the district, officials said.

Officials added that JDA has claimed to have reclaimed prime land valued at around Rs 10 crore during an anti-encroachment drive carried out near the Jammu Railway Station in the Trikuta Nagar area.

Officials said the operation was undertaken by JDA teams to remove alleged unauthorised occupation from the land.

During the anti-eviction drive, occupants were evicted and their belongings removed from the site as authorities proceeded with the reclamation process.

The operation was conducted with extensive security arrangements, including a large contingent of police personnel who accompanied and assisted JDA officials to ensure the drive ran smoothly and to maintain law and order.

According to JDA, the reclaimed land is located in a strategically important area near the railway station and holds substantial commercial value.

Officials added that the action was part of the authority's ongoing efforts to protect public land from encroachment and unauthorised occupation.

The exercise witnessed the deployment of men and machinery as officials supervised the removal of structures and belongings from the site.

Authorities said the reclaimed land has now been restored to the possession of the Jammu Development Authority.

Officials described the operation as a significant step in safeguarding government assets and preventing further encroachment on public property.

The city's growth evolved through the medieval period and was significantly transformed during the Dogra Rule starting in 1846.

Maharaja Gulab Singh, Maharaja Pratap Singh, and Maharaja Hari Singh progressively modernised the city with the construction of bridges, hospitals, schools, and the Ranbir Canal -- the lifeline of Jammu's agriculture.

The JDA was constituted in 1970 to secure the planned development of the Jammu local area.

Since then, the JDA has been the primary architect of Jammu's urban expansion, preparing the first Master Plan in 1974 and continually evolving to meet the aspirations of a dynamic, vibrant city.