Bhubaneswar: Vendors have encroached upon the footpaths and roadsides leading to the city railway station by giving a blow to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s effort to free the Capital from the squatters.
Illegal acquisition of footpaths and roads near the station and a bus bay in the locality has been creating inconvenience for the passengers.
“BMC and other enforcement agencies should take immediate steps to evict vendors who have illegally occupied footpaths leading to the city railway station. Apart from creating troubles for the passengers, the scenario is creating a bad impression among tourists,” said Debasish Mohanty, a senior citizen and rail passenger.
Officials of East Coast Railway admit that the roadside encroachments have become a major issue for passengers.
“We have cleared the encroachments from the railway land. But, encroachments by the vendors on the connecting roads are a major issue. These roads are under the control of BMC and they have to clear these encroachments,” said a senior railway official.
Orissa POST, in its January 17 edition, had published the issue following which Mayor Ananta Narayan promised that the civic body will look into the illegal acquisition of footpaths. However, BMC officials are yet to address the issue.
“We are trying our best to clear encroachments in the city. There are litigations in some areas. We will soon evict all vendors who have encroached upon footpaths and roadsides,” said a senior BMC official.
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