Bhubaneswar, Feb. 8: A special joint squad today demolished 39 structures on Janpath and near Kalinga Hospital.

The squad consisting of officials of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and police has undertaken the eviction-cum-demolition drives on the Kalinga Stadium-Patia road and between Vani Vihar and Sishu Bhavan Square.

The move aims to make cycle tracks and pedestrian paths along the main roads free from encroachment. "The authorities are doing their job in a proper manner. I had never seen such regular eviction and demolition drives in the city in the past. This is a good move," said Damana resident Md Imran Khan.

This morning, the squad moved to Janpath and removed 22 temporary shops, four helmet shops, one tea kiosk, three juice shops, 40 advertisement boards and 18 street vendors. The authorities have also asked the owners of 22 temporary furniture shops on the footpath to remove their items.

After conducting the drive on Janpath, the squad moved to the Kalinga Stadium-Patia stretch and removed 17 structures, 12 advertisement boards, two cemented structures, two extended parts of temples and one fruit shop. It also did patrolling of the area to ensure that the encroachers did not reappear on the spots during the evening.

"One excavator each was put in place for the demolition on the two stretches. The eviction drive was conducted successfully without police force. The encroachers are aware now that eviction drives will definitely remove them since many are voluntarily removing their kiosks. It is making our job easier," said the development authority's liaison officer Subhransu Mohanty.

The city administration is in the process of preparing a blueprint to improve all main city roads under the Complete Street Programme. The project will be implemented first on Janpath, following which other main stretches of the city, including Bidyut Marg, Sachivalaya Marg and other roads, will be covered under the programme.