Bhubaneswar, Jan. 9: The development authority's demolition-cum-eviction drive to clear footpaths and cycle tracks of encroachment reached its sixth day today.

The squad consisting of officials from the Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and police conducted today's drive from New Airport Square to BDA City Centre and Madhusudan Nagar to Patia Square.

The squad demolished three temples at Kanan Vihar Phase II and removed 24 vendors from the stretches. "We are nearing the end of the drive. We have removed encroachments from footpaths between Raj Bhavan and Patia Square," said the authority's liaison officer Subhransu Sekhar Mohanty.

The development authority today removed squatters from a 5,000sqft government land at Madhusudan Nagar, demolishing two thatched-roof houses and a 125ft boundary wall.

Sources said an organisation called Maa Suna Devi Mahila Samiti had encroached on the land.

"We had tried nearly eight times to free this land, but couldn't because of opposition from the samiti and local residents. We succeeded today with help from the cops," Mohanty said.

On January 5, the authority, civic body and the police formed the special squad to oust squatters from footpaths and cycle tracks from the Airport-Nandankanan stretch. Since then, they have removed squatters from several sections across Bhubaneswar.

"We aim to make the city friendly for cyclists and pedestrians. We had made the same proposal for the Smart City Project. We are also conducting events such as Patha Utsav and Ekamra Walks to promote non-motorised transport. It is our duty to provide cyclists and pedestrians their share of the road," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Saheed Nagar resident Debadatta Das said since the city administration discouraged the use of vehicles asking people to walk or cycle, they should make proper facilities available.