Kolkata Police, KMC remove illegal shanties near Yogayog Bhavan
Times of India | 5 September 2025
Kolkata: A team of Kolkata Police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials on Thursday afternoon removed nearly 40 illegal shanties blocking pavements in front of Yogayog Bhavan on Central Avenue, less than half a kilometre from Bowbazar police station.
A few houres later, a police team removed around 20 hawkers - along with their wares - from the road connecting Prachi cinema with Koley Market to ensure smoother vehicular movement to the city.
The shanty dwellers were given a deadline on Wednesday to dismantle the structures and vacate the area. Most complied by Thursday, with civic teams collecting debris and cleaning the pavement, though they came prepared with heavy vehicles to demolish the structures.
However, many residents continued to squat on the pavements late into the evening, some sitting on folding cots.
"These structures completely blocked the pavement, leaving pedestrians with no choice but to walk on the busy road, which was a serious safety concern," said an officer from Bowbazar police station. "We took action following repeated complaints from local residents about nuisance and hazards caused by the squatters."
The dwellers, many of whom lived in the area for over two decades, expressed concern over their uncertain future.
"I have been living here for 22 years. Where else can I go?" said one of the displaced pavement dwellers.
A similar drive was taken by Muchipara police and Sealdah Traffic guard to clear the road next to Prachi cinema and leading to Koley Market. "The hawkers were taking up both sides of the road. This was stopping free movement of vehicles to the market.
we advised several times for the hawkers to set up stalls on one side of the road. when this was disregarded, we began smaller drives. On Wednesday, we removed them completely from one side of the road.
Such drives will continue," said a police officer.
The move to clear shanties adjoining Jadunath Dey Lane and CR Avenue near Bowbazar comes after a similar eviction drive in Feb this year, which targeted 45 families. Those families returned to the area within days of the removal.
On Tuesday, an eviction drive on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road was aborted after squatters resisted the authorities. Police began removing shanties but halted the operation following objections, as residents pointed out that the crackdown targeted pavement dwellers but not illegal hawkers occupying the pavements and carriageways.
In contrast, Thursday's operation near Yogayog Bhavan proceeded without resistance. Still, many displaced residents remained on the pavements. "In fact, they took down the structures on their own, and we did not have to use force," said an official. Some elderly women were taken to nearby shelter homes as part of the relief efforts. The KMC and police have assured continued monitoring of the area. "This time we will maintain strict vigilance so that nobody can set up the structures again, encroaching the pavements and causing inconvenience to motorists," said an officer.
Pedestrians who use the area regularly said the encroachments made it risky for them to use the stretch. "We had to walk on the road amidst heavy vehicular traffic," said a pedestrian.