Patna: The civic authorities on Monday made free from encroachment the roughly 100 metre long and 30 metre wide space from hotel Panache to Maurya hotel.

It was part of the mega drive against squatters on across the state capital.

The space was given on lease for five years in 2010 to the hotels and area shops for beautification but it was entirely encroached upon; many shopkeepers were using it as their own parking space.

Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishor visited the place on Monday and the demolition drive was carried out in his presence.

As soon as Kishor reached on the spot, Maurya's manager B.D. Singh came rushing out. Singh promised full cooperation with the administration and said he has also done some beatification work in the space by planting trees.

Kishor said now the place would be utilised for public parking. "Give your support to it," Kishor added.

Three earthmover machines were deployed to demolish the encroachments.

Kishor was accompanied by additional municipal commissioner Sheela Irani and officials of Patna Electricity Supply Unit. Kishor walked from Maurya to Panache and inspected the space.

"We were not aware that this space it belongs to the government and during this (anti-encroachment) drive we came to know about it," Kishor said. "Seeing the situation, I can say that it is gross misuse of public property; the entire area is encroached by private parties. We have decided to develop this area for public parking and widening the road."

The parking lot would be developed by next month, he added.

Kishor pointed out that the district administration had earlier given notice to all shops and hotels to remove their encroachments by themselves but no one did. He said that the shops and hotels would have the pay up the cost of removing the encroachments.

"Once the road is widened, traffic around Gandhi Maidan would become smoother and I have proposed to construct another lane around the ground which can be used by pedestrians. On that lane, no vehicles would be allowed," Kishor said.

He said the road would be widened by at least 25 feet (7.6 metres).

The anti-encroachment drive was also carried out at the Station Road area where traffic congestion is a regular feature. Most shops were removed. A parking lot is on the cards, apart from widening the road adjacent to the area.