Bhubaneswar, July 1: A joint team of the development authority, municipal corporation and the general administration department today demolished unauthorised shops and other buildings at Saheed Nagar and Satsang Vihar to facilitate widening of roads.

More than 70 such structures, including a private karate school built in a park, were razed down by the team, which conducted the operation in the presence of police. The shops that had come up near the service road near Vani Vihar had been affecting vehicular movement causing traffic jam.

While unauthorised structures near Metro tower, a landmark building, were demolished, some shops in front of the income tax office near Satsang Vihar were also brought down. They had narrowed down the stretch connecting the national highway with VSS Nagar.

Enforcement officer of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority Deba Prasad Dash said the drive was conducted at Saheed Nagar near Hotel Empires, where unauthorised shops were demolished. “The team then moved towards the national highway. Shops on both sides of the highway affecting the traffic were also demolished,” said Dash. A karate and kick-boxing club that had encroached land of a park in Saheed Nagar were also brought down during the drive.

Many small shopkeepers were seen pushing away their cabin shops before the drive commenced. Once the team had left the area, they, however, were back in their places.

“Three to four unauthorised shops have come up in front of our establishment. We pay regular tax to the government, but these shopkeepers never pay any tax and run their business. Their unauthorised business is affecting our trade,” said Anupam Das, who owns a shop selling computer parts.

An official in the eviction team said they had been getting complaints about the traffic problem being created by unauthorised shops and buildings. Such problems had been reported from the area near Metro tower and Satsang Vihar.

“A decision was taken recently to make the area encroachment free. Since these shops had encroached on government land, they were not served with any prior notice,” said an official accompanying the team. He said more such drives were in the offing.