Bhubaneswar, June 2: A joint eviction team today demolished the illegally extended portion of a popular fast food centre located at Master Canteen Square in front of the Congress Bhavan.
The Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, general administration department and police, who were part of the eviction team, had faced stiff resistance earlier in January while conducting the eviction drive.
However, today's drive was carried out with more police force, and it was completed without any problems.
Three platoons of police, including one platoon of female police, were deployed to maintain law and order during the drive.
An official said the eviction was carried out to remove the illegal portion only. Sources said a service road running parallel to Mahatma Gandhi Marg, where rallies are held, would be extended to allow free movement of vehicles through this road during demonstrations.
The store, which is part of a popular fast food chain, had encroached on government land obstructing development work at Master Canteen Square. Though it was opened as part of an Odisha State Poultry Products Co-Operative Marketing Federation Limited booth in the city, it started illegally extending and encroaching on government land. Its popularity was creating traffic jams at one of the busiest traffic squares.
"Earlier, several notices had been issued to the shop owner for removing the illegal construction, but he did nothing. The civic body sought the help of other agencies to remove the encroachment. Accordingly, it was done today," said enforcement officer of the development authority Pramod Kumar Patra.
On January 16, some goons had attacked the eviction squad by pelting them with stones - in which a driver of the excavator machine was injured, and subsequently, a police case was lodged. The police had also arrested two persons.
Along with the extended portion of the fast food centre, two other small temporary eateries were also removed. Though the plan was to carry out the drive on the stretch between Master Canteen and Rajmahal and in the Market Building area, scorching heat forced the team to stop after that. An official said the drive would continue tomorrow.
