Bhubaneswar: A joint enforcement squad of the development authority, municipal corporation and police on Saturday carried out a drive to remove unauthorised occupants from under the flyover of Mausima temple and Sishu Bhavan Square.

The squad cleared 10 cabins, 16 sheds, three permanent brick houses, two garages, four timber depots, three shops and one eatery during the exercise. The drive started around 10am and ended at 5pm.

"The requisition was made by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, following which we proceeded to the spot on Saturday morning and carried out the drive. We took the help of two excavators. The drive was carried out peacefully under the protection of the police and fire safety officers," said Bhubaneswar Development Authority liaison officer S.S. Mohanty.

Four enforcement squads of the authority, smart city and south east zone of the corporation carried out the drive under the supervision of the enforcement officer. Assistant commissioner of police Fagua Singh and the inspector in charge of Shri Lingaraj police station were also present during the exercise.

In absence of proper enforcement, the squatters had occupied this place under the flyover for a long time. A civic official said: "We had received several complaints, following which we swung into action."

A shopkeeper at Bapuji Nagar, Monoj Mahapatra, said: "They (the squatters) had built concrete structures under the bridge."

The joint squad had removed several unauthorised hoardings, sheds and structures on Sachivalaya Marg, Nicco Park Square, Jagamara-Pokhariput road and Rajpath over the past few days.

"We have decided to intensify the eviction and demolition drives to keep the beauty of the city intact," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.