Traffic policemen tow away bikes during an anti-encroachment drive and an earthmover (above) clears the rubble on Bistupur Main Road on Wednesday. Pictures by Bhola Prasad

East Singhbhum traffic police on Wednesday went for the jugular and seized as many as 150 two-wheelers and 20 cars parked along the city’s best known artery, Bistupur Main Road, as part of a high-profile anti-encroachment drive.

Equipped with towing gear and excavator, around 40 policemen of the anti-encroachment squad, supervised by deputy superintendent of police (traffic) G.N. Singh, removed vehicles illegally parked along Bistupur Main Road.

They also razed unauthorised extensions of three shops, including an ice cream parlour and a well-known sweet shop, along the thoroughfare near Bank of Baroda.

The drive began from the auto-rickshaw stand area in front of the bank as excavators razed extended portions of the three shops. The policemen also lifted about 25 two-wheelers parked on the road. Then, the anti-encroachment squad moved toward M Road and seized 100 two-wheelers parked in front of the Kamani Centre shopping complex.

Then, the traffic police squad reached the stretch between the BS Plaza and Hotel Nalanda, removing 20 cars and around 25 two-wheelers parked along the road.

Before towing away the cars, the DSP (traffic) issued an alert to vehicle owners to personally remove them. But no one turned up.

High-end cars were scratched as they were chained before being towed away to Bistupur police station.

“While carrying out our eviction drive, we have to focus on Bistupur Main Road, as the intensity of traffic is maximum here. It is the city’s main thoroughfare, but the main artery and the roads that lead from it stay clogged,” said the DSP (traffic).

He said that Wednesday’s anti-encroachment drive would not only widen the space for vehicular traffic and give the main road a new look, it would serve as an eye-opener to many vehicle owners on exactly where to park their vehicles in an authorised way.

“People park anywhere and everywhere,” said Singh. “Most vehicle owners lack common civic sense where vehicle parking is concerned. Despite the facility of such a beautiful parking lot behind Bank of Baroda, car owners tend to park their vehicles right on the sides of the road, eating into the space for traffic movement,” said Singh.

He added that the drive would continue and that roads along marketplaces of densely populated areas such as Bistupur, Sakchi, Jugsalai and Golmuri would be cleared of unauthorised parking and encroachment.