Paradip, May 11: The district administration has launched an eviction drive from today to free the township of roadside encroachment.

As a part of the drive, illegal concrete structures, which had come on a 500-m stretch of the main road, were bulldozed to allow unhindered traffic movement. The drive would cover a 3-km stretch of the main road from Santasahi to Ichapur.

"This eviction drive has been undertaken to widen the main road of the township. The road widening work is in progress and it would be finished before the monsoon," said Kendrapara collector Debraj Senapati.

The eviction drive has been protest-free. With the encroached area being done away with, a wider passage is now available for the traffic movement, said Senapati.

The 7-km long main road had been encroached upon at various places. As a result, vehicular traffic would suffer a lot. "The eviction drive would be further intensified in order to get rid of other encroached areas," Senapati said.

As the squatters had encroached upon large parts in the township, the drive was launched from the urban area. Notices were served to the violators before the demolition of permanent structures, said an administration official.

The drive has received positive response from various walks of life. "The eviction drive is a remarkable step. Earlier, such drives had been undertaken. But, they failed. The operation had been stopped midway due to alleged political interference," said Bimal Rout, a local resident.

It has been noticed that evicted areas find new squatters. Hence, the authorities need to undertake the road widening work immediately to avert possible reoccupation of the government-owned land, said Rajendra Garabadu, another local resident.

"Dearth of land is a major impediment to the development of infrastructure in the township. Large areas in and around the township are besieged with unauthorised human settlements. Eviction orders are also being served to the violators in other areas. The drive would be launched in other parts in a phased manner. The acquired land could be used for public utility and other development purposes," Senapati said.