Cuttack, July 8: Police, along with the joint eviction squad, booked 41 violators and collected penalties of Rs 25,000 during an enforcement drive here today.

A joint eviction squad, comprising officials of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, the development authority, the electricity department, and regional transport officer, conducted the crackdown on the encroachments from Buxi Bazaar, Baropathar and Choudhury Bazaar.

They removed illegal encroachments from the congested roads in the city to ensure smooth traffic movement.

As many as 41 persons, including roadside vendors and motorcyclists, were penalised today.

"A fine of Rs 25,000 has been realised from the violators while others have been cautioned not to encroach upon the drains and roads and create traffic snarls," said assistant commissioner of police (traffic) P.K. Dalai.

Dalai added that the 2.5-km stretch from Buxi Bazaar to Choudhury Bazaar via Baropathar and Dargha Bazaar was one of the busiest roads in the city.

Earlier this month, the enforcement squad had cleared over 60 illegal encroachments from major routes, including those from Dolmundai to Seminary Chhak and from College Square to Ranihat.

This crackdown is likely to provide some respite to the commuters here. "The entire bulk of traffic, coming from Dolmundai and Seminary Chhak, sides is now on the road that connects Buxi Bazaar with Choudhury Bazaar via Dargha Bazaar, due to the ongoing work at the integrated sanitation project site at Meria Bazaar," said Ramesh Sahu, a commuter.

Sahu added that this detour had led to the acute traffic congestion on the road.

The illegal encroachments add to the woes. Many roadside shop owners are using most of the road space, making on-road parking outside the commercial centres difficult.

"The road outside Big Bazaar and City Hospital becomes overcrowded during peak hours and illegal parking has emerged as a major problem on the busy road. We hope that similar enforcement drives would be launched on a regular basis here," said Sukumar Rout, another commuter.

Rout said the absence of proper parking lots had added to the problems of the commuters and those coming to the commercial centres.

Though the corporation has set up a dedicated taxi stand outside the Gaurishankar Park at Choudhury Bazaar, such parking spaces are also needed for other vehicles.