Sambalpur: Efforts of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) to clear encroachments along the busy Ainthapali-Budharaja road have turned futile. Though the SMC had evicted vendors along the road for smooth traffic, encroachers have once again started their operations on the stretch.
In December last year, encroachments were cleared on a major stretch by roadside from Ainthapali Chowk to the office of PHED SDO. The day-long eviction drive was conducted by the SMC amid tight police security.
A total of 224 encroachers were evicted from the stretch of the road. Of them, 104 were vegetable sellers. The SMC had accommodated vegetable vendors at Bhima Bhoi daily market at Shantinagar. The newly-developed market spread over an area of 4,500 sq mt has concrete platforms for vegetable vendors and a capacity to accommodate 200 vendors.
However, the vegetable vendors, who had been evicted by the SMC, have again started their business on Ainthapali-Budharaja road despite having their designated vending zone at Bhima Bhoi Daily Market.
The road is the gateway to the city as it connects both the National Highway-6 and the State Highway-10. The vendors are not only encroaching upon the roads but also acting as an impediment to the smooth movement of vehicles.
District Collector Samarth Verma said another eviction drive will be launched shortly to make the road encroachment-free.
PNN
