Kamal Ghorui
Cuttack: The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) on Friday launched an eviction drive to clear illegal encroachments along multiple stretches of the city, including from CDA Sector-1 to Krushak Bazar and another key stretch from Chandi Mandir to Stewart School.According to CMC officials, more than 70 illegal structures, comprising temporary sheds, roadside stalls, and unauthorized extensions, were demolished during the operation. On the CDA Sector 1–Krushak Bazar stretch, around 60 stalls were evicted as part of the drive.The eviction was carried out with the assistance of enforcement squads and police personnel to ensure smooth execution and prevent any untoward incidents, many of which had encroached upon public land and obstructed pedestrian movement as well as vehicular traffic.Enforcement team leader, CMC, Shramika Bibhutiray, said, “The drive was part of a broader initiative to reclaim public spaces and improve traffic flow in congested areas of the city.” “We have demolished over 70 illegal structures across the stretch. The stretches witnessed a steady rise in unauthorized constructions over the years, leading to bottlenecks and inconvenience for daily commuters,” added Bibhutiray.Muna Behera of Chandi Chhak area said, “We welcome the move. Eviction drives should be conducted regularly across the city, because within a few days of removal, the same shops come up again at the same spots. Without strict monitoring and continuous action, these efforts will not have any lasting impact,”added Behera.Mayor Subhash Singh said, “We are committed to keeping the city’s roads and public spaces free of encroachments. Enforcement drives would continue in phases across the city to curb illegal encroachments and maintain order in public spaces.”
