Cuttack, May 23: The revenue administration today launched a crackdown on unauthorised shrines and other constructions along the National Highway-5.

For the first time, the enforcement squad has demolished a puja mandap that had come up illegally on government land.

Official sources said the mandap of Madhupatna puja committee was demolished soon after the eviction of smaller shrines at Khannagar today. The authorities began the demolition today. They razed the Bata Mangala shrine and two other smaller shrines near Khannagar.

However, the decision to block the vehicular traffic on NH -5 near Samrat Talkies to carry out the demolition of the mandap led to traffic congestion. The blockade led to resentment among commuters as they were stranded on the highway for hours.

“I had to attend an urgent meeting in Bhubaneswar, but was late because of the blockade. I had to cover a distance of 2km from OMP Square to reach Madhupatna to catch a bus to Bhubaneswar,” said Ranjan Mohapatra, a resident of Chauliaganj.

Local residents alleged that restrictions were clamped thrice within a gap of two hours each to complete the demolition work.

“Traffic was blocked for over an hour in subsequent gaps which created a lot of inconvenience to the commuters, especially those coming from OMP side,” said Radhamohan Swain, a local resident. Senior police officials said the restrictions were clamped on the movement of vehicular traffic for the safety of the commuters, as the mandap was located close to NH-5.

District administration officials said that elaborate plans have made for eviction of illegal religious shrines along the NH-5 stretch from Khannagar to Chauliaganj which would be taken up tomorrow. The records of Khannagar Sai temple are being scrutinised and a decision regarding its demolition will be taken up.

Earlier, nearly 500 devotees of the Sai temple continued with their peaceful demonstration against the possible demolition of the temple constructed last month.

An officer said all unauthorised religious shrines along the Ring Road encircling the city would be demolished.

“For the last three days, we have been organising prayers and bhajans at the temple. We will continue with our movement and not allow its demolition,” said Sabita Sahu, a devotee.