Tatanagar station authorities have initiated moves to clear encroachments along railway tracks by issuing notices to those who have set up illegal shops and shanties in accordance with a South Eastern Railway directive issued in the wake of the recent tragedy at Amritsar where a train ran through a crowd of people watching Ravan Dahan on Dussehra, killing 60 people.

According to Tatanagar senior section engineer Ranjit Kumar, who issued as many as 45 notices on Tuesday evening and Wednesday, encroachers at Govindpur, Asanboni and Salgajhuri along 5km of rail tracks had been given four days to vacate the land failing which they would be evicted.

“We have taken these steps in view people’s safety. We are aware that a large number of people have set up makeshift kiosks and are selling vegetables, fruits and garments along tracks at Govindpur, Asanboni and Salgajhuri for decades, we have to act now,” Kumar told The Telegraph.

A group of people running small businesses at Jugsalai would also be served similar notices in a day or two, he said.

RPF inspector at Tatanagar M.K. Singh said the railway land department had already informed him about initiating anti-encroachment measures after Saturday, October 27.

“We feel that those who have set up establishments along railway tracks would not like to leave their spots since they have been operating from there since decades. But we will have to vacate them somehow. We will, therefore, initiate anti-encroachment measures from October 28,” he said.

Significantly, a group of shop-keepers at Govindpur and Salgajhuri has started mobilising support against the railway move to evict them.

“I have been doing business along the track for the last 20 years. Why should we give up our place of business when a tragedy has occurred in Amritsar? If the railways wants to remove us, then it should provide us alternative land,” said Nikhil Gope, a fruit vendor of Salgajhuri.

Like Gope, others who have received railway notices, were also gearing up to oppose the railway move.

Which other stations should initiate a similar move? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com