Representing the NHAI, Additional Advocate General, Haryana, M L Saggar said that after the shopkeepers of Kalka moved the apex court, the NHAI was directed to remove the encroachments without damaging the original property of the residents.

The counsel for the residents of Kalka, Asim Mehrotra, said: “The court has ordered that no damage be done to the original buildings of Kalka residents.”

Chairman of Kalka Bachhao Sangathan Samiti Bhagat Singh said: “An appeal was filed in the Supreme Court against the Union of India and others, claiming that the shopkeepers and traders of Kalka possessed authentic sale deeds, registries, NOCs and the plans dating before 1901, 1932 and 1940 to prove their ownership.”

It was only recently that the High Court had asked the NHAI and the Administration to remove encroachments from both sides of National Highway-22 (Pinjore-Kalka highway).