CMC officials and police demolish illegal encroachments. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, June 10: The three-day long eviction drive conducted by officials of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation along with the police to decongest major roads for better traffic movement concluded today.

All roadside encroachments along the stretch from Buxi Bazar to Choudhry Bazar via Baropathar, Tinikonia Bagicha and Darghabazar were evicted amid tight security.

“Today, the first phase of eviction came to an end by demolishing illegal encroachments on Buxi Bazar and Choudhry Bazar areas. The drive was carried out as per decision of the traffic management committee in accordance with the high court order,” said deputy commissioner of police Praveen Kumar.

Earlier, the roadside encroachments from Bajrakabati up to Khannagar were removed during a two-day special drive that began on Wednesday. According to officials, the drive against roadside encroachments will be helpful to solve the problems of regular traffic jams in the city.

However, the drive has come under scanner as the vendors, who had been evicted, have again established their units on the stretch from Bajrakabati up to Khannagar.

“The drive seems to be an eye wash as the vendors, who are yet to be provided with proper vending zones by the CMC, have again set up their business on the Bajrakabati road which was recently santised,” said Sishir Kumar Rath (45), a local resident.

On the other hand, police said the drive to clear the roadside encroachments would be intensified.

“This will be a regular enforcement drive to clear the encroachments. We are continuously monitoring things and all the defaulters are being fined and subsequently more stringent action would be taken against the violators,” said Kumar, adding that a blue print to launch another eviction drive would soon be prepared at a meeting likely to be held shortly. Apart from the roadside eviction, the CMC has also launched a crackdown on the illegal hoardings in many parts of the city.

“We are simultaneous carrying out drive against roadside encroachments and hoardings as the municipal council has decided to enforce drive against hoardings from April 1 as probe into the tender process is on,” said CMC secretary Ashutosh Samal.

Denying allegations of partiality, the CMC secretary said the ongoing drive was being carried out irrespective of class and business. Moreover, small roadside vendors, illegal constructions by mega shopping malls and other business establishments have also been demolished.