The road runs right in front of the district headquarters hospital in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Sept. 15: Commuters facing problems passing through the busy Church Chhak-Modipara Chhak road due to encroachments have reasons to be happy.

The Sambalpur Municipality had served notices to 34 kiosks, which have been set up illegally along the road that runs in front of the district headquarters hospital in the city.

The eviction move is expected to be a breather for patients visiting the medical facility as well.

While some of the squatters have complied with the order and removed their shops others are yet to abide by it.

“Though some people have removed encroachments, still there are quite a few illegal structures. We will remove them as well. An eviction drive will be launched shortly in consultation with district police,” said the municipality’s executive officer Aniruddha Pradhan.

The civic body will take up the eviction drive to facilitate expansion of the arterial road where traffic movement is substantial. Earlier, lawyers of the district bar association, too, had demanded removal of the encroachments.

“The district headquarters hospital of Sambalpur is located along the road. Hundreds of the people depend on the road to visit the health facility. Thousands of vehicles regularly ply on this road. The road should be free from encroachment,” said local resident Gokula Pradhan.

A commuter, Buddhadev Hota, said: “The number of vehicles has increased significantly in the city. However, several roads have become narrow because of encroachment along the stretches. It is essential to evict the illegal encroachment from the arterial roads of the city for the smooth plying of vehicles.”

“Encroachments have emerged as a major barrier for the city’s development. Even the roadside drains are not free from squatters,” said another local resident, Gyana Prakash Sahu.