Anti-encroachment drive in Bhubaneswar triggers resentment, prohibitory orders clamped

Tension ran high in Bhubaneswar as a mass eviction and anti-encroachment drive continued to raze several unauthorized shops and structures along the stretch of road from Acharya Vihar to Vani Vihar on Thursday morning.

According to sources, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita have been clamped in the area to avoid any untoward incident during the eviction drive.

Sources reported that the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) had earlier issued eviction notices to several owners of makeshift stalls and street vendors in Acharya Vihar over occupying portions of the road without authorization, resulting in severe traffic congestion.

However, several street vendors have alleged that they have not received any notice. They also claimed that authorities are carrying out the eviction drive haphazardly and without offering any compensation.

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Reportedly, the current anti-encroachment and eviction drive is part of a beautification drive in view of Odisha’s maiden Pravasi Bharatiya Divas scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar from the 8th to 10th January.

Earlier on December 24, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das had stated plans by the BMC and BDA to clear 55 roads of encroachments in the state capital. For this, the city administration had also issued plans to evict roadside vendors along key stretches and shift them to designated permanent vending zones.

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However, the move met with large-scale protests on December 26 when hundreds of street vendors gheraoed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) North Zone office and blocked roads at NALCO Square.