Bhubaneswar: The development authority's plans for a drive to remove encroachments around Utkal University has elicited staunch opposition from vendors and business owners in the area.

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority, along with other government agencies, has planned a demolition-cum-eviction drive to remove squatters around the varsity with particular focus on Vani Vihar Square - the connecting link to institute.

The authorities will hold a meeting with officials concerned and chalk out plans to undertake what could be one of the city's biggest ever eviction drives.

"We have invited higher education, home and civic officials to finalise the plans," said an authority official.

Local residents and commuters alleged that inaction by the authorities has allowed Vani Vihar Square to fall prey to rampant encroachment. Insurmountable traffic problems are clogged drains in the area compound their misery. That apart, different vehicles, especially auto-rickshaws and long-distance coaches, , stop to pick up passengers at this square add to commuter woes.

"Vani Vihar is an important junction, but encroachments and irregular halting of vehicles choke the area. Traffic jams are a regular affair. Moreover, the junction's poor planning enables people to drive on the wrong side," said Utkal employee Santosh Jena.

"What is worse is that police are mute spectators."

The drive, however, will not be easy for the authorities since the encroachers plan to oppose the move.

"Several people like me have been conducting business here for the past 15 years. I run a travel agency and this place is the best for it. We are not going to allow them to evict us," said Vimal Jena.

A few meters down the road towards the Acharya Vihar Square, the development authority faces another problem in the shape of opposition from slum dwellers who have claimed settlement rights beside the varsity's boundary wall.

"We are aware of these problems and will strategically conduct the drive," said the official.

The development authority, however, can count on help from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and the police. "We are here to assist them since it will be a joint eviction drive. We will make people understand the situation and look to rehabilitate them," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Development authority sources said the drive would also cover the varsity campus. "Encroachment is not only confined to the outer areas. We will look after the amount of encroachment and then evict them," said another official.