As many as 400 illegal shops, which have encroached on pavements and roadsides of bustling Bistupur market in Jamshedpur, may be razed soon to pave way for a clutter-free zone with less blaze worries.

The drive will resume as soon as a stay order by Jharkhand High Court, issued last year, lifts, which East Singhbhum district administration is expecting this week.

An anti-encroachment drive on the entrance of the marketplace was held on December 28, 2015, during which around 40 shops were cleared.

Dhalbhum SDO Alok Kumar said after they cleared three entry points to Bistupur market - outside the stay's ambit - on December 28, the administration now aimed to remove 400 more unauthorised shops along the pavements.

The SDO clarified that the shops allotted by Tata Steel and its subsidiary Jusco would not be removed.

"We have filed a counter affidavit against the 2015 stay order with our arguments. We expect the honourable high court will lift it soon so that we can clear the marketplace of encroachment. We have surveyed the area where the drive will be held," said Kumar.

"Over the decades, people with political clout have encroached upon pavements and roadsides of the market. Now that we want to remove the illegal shops for safety and convenience of common people, the same group with vested interests is coming in the administration's way by putting up legal hurdles," said Kumar.

He added the administration was concerned about vendors' livelihood but not at the cost of public safety due to encroachment.

Existing vendors are keeping their fingers crossed over the high court order.

Shop-owners are holding regular meetings to find a way to cope with the situation.

"Till now neither the police nor Jusco officials have been able to remove our shops. But this SDO seems to be rigid. Let's see. A legal battle will help us buy time and overcome the crisis," said an unauthorised footwear vendor.

What gives him and others like him hope is that the owners of 40 shops, which had been removed last week, have resumed their businesses, albeit through makeshift stalls under large umbrellas.

One such shopkeeper Sanjay Khatik, who sells school bags, said they had set up makeshift shops as suggested by the SDO until an alternative arrangement was made for them by the administration.

However, customers are largely appreciative of the anti-encroachment drive. A resident of Sonari and regular visitor to the market Sardul Singh said congested passages in Bistupur caused inconvenience, especially to children, during peak hours. "The marketplace will be a safer once more unauthorised shops are removed," he said.