Pokhara Metropolitan City has started demolishing unauthorised structures in front of the Prithvi Chowk bus park as part of its campaign to reclaim encroached public land.

The drive, which began on Thursday, involves the removal of structures built on public land that had been illegally occupied for years. The metropolitan city has deployed excavators to clear the area.

Structures belonging to the Sahara Club, the Community Police Service Centre, and those used by the Himali Cultural Family have also been demolished.

Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said the campaign aims to protect public property and widen road. He said the municipality was committed to reclaiming public land that had long been used by various organisations, and expressed gratitude to stakeholders supporting the drive.

Offices of trade unions affiliated with major political parties, including the Nepali Congress-aligned Nepal Trade Union Congress and the CPN-UML-linked General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions, Gandaki chapter, were also operating in the encroached area. These organisations had constructed buildings on public road land and were reportedly renting them out to third parties.

A trade union linked to the Nepali Communist Party had already vacated the premises and handed over its key earlier.

Following the removal of these structures, the municipality plans to widen the road from Prithvi Chowk towards New Road.

The municipality had previously issued a final 35-day notice to vacate the public land, which expired on May 23. The eviction drive, which began in the Phirke river area on May 24, reached Prithvi Chowk on Thursday.

In the Amar Singh Chowk area, structures built on land registered under Amar Singh Secondary School were removed voluntarily by traders following the municipality’s request.

Demolition is also ongoing in the Phirke river area, where structures built by obstructing the natural water flow have been cleared.

The municipality said it is making arrangements for genuine squatters residing in the affected areas.