Bhubaneswar, Nov. 24: A joint team of the development authority, the municipal corporation and other government agencies today demolished 28 shops near Saheed Nagar Haat.

On November 14, 2004, the old market was demolished to construct a posh residential-cum-office complex called BMC Bhawani Mall. The people displaced in the process had built the Saheed Nagar Haat to conduct business. The illegal shops had come up near the market.

Today, the eviction drive started around 11.30am and continued till 2pm. Bhubaneswar Development Authority enforcement officer Pramod Kumar Patra said: "Some members of the Saheed Nagar Haat had requested us to remove the illegal shops becuse they were creating an unhealthy atmosphere."