Post-Kali Puja drive for removal of VIP Road encroachments
Times of India | 22 October 2024
Kolkata: With the pujas over, the state public works department (PWD) is planning to take up second phase drive to clear encroachments on govt land off VIP Road.
Officials said that the drive to clear encroachment will be conducted off the airport-bound flank of VIP road at Baguiati and on the stretch from Haj House to Kaikhali. “A few new encroachments have occurred at places which were earlier cleared up.
The drive to clear the encroachment will be taken up once the festive season gets over,” said an official.
“The PWD is working to remove makeshift structures on govt land on the sides of VIP Road at several stretches. The drive to clear encroachment on VIP Road as per court instruction is taken up in phases,’ said an official of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, the civic body under which the areas fall.
PWD authorities had earlier cleared the stretch from Kaikhali to Haldiram crossing. Some permanent stores which had spread in front, encroaching the footpath and roadside with accessories, were cleared following notices which were served.
TOI recently found several street vendors and makeshift hawker stalls lined up on the airport-bound flank at Baguiati. Locals said that hawkers, including fruit and vegetable sellers, fish and meat vendors and others, have been doing business on the roadside off VIP Road for decades, with many setting up makeshift structures. The service road stretch at Baguiati was also partly occupied with hawkers and cars parked on the sides.
Earlier following a HC order, the PWD had conducted field inspections and spot enquiries as the authorities had detected encroachment on govt land off VIP Road.
Officials said that a process was on to identify places where the hawkers and street vendors could be systematically rehabilitated. “The idea is that one can continue doing business by using a portable cabin type structure which could be removed after the day’s business. No permanent structure will be allowed,” said an official.
In adjacent New Town area, the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA), will take up a drive to evict and remove close to 400 vendors to free footpath space.