SAMBALPUR: The efforts of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) to clear encroachment along busy Ainthapali-Budharaja main road in Sambalpur city have turned futile. Though the SMC had evicted vendors along the busy road for smooth passage of traffic, the encroachers have once again started their operation at the place.On December 21 last year, a major stretch by the side of the road from Ainthapali Chowk to office of PHED Sub-Divisional Officer was cleared from the clutches of encroachers. The day-long eviction drive was conducted by the corporation amid tight police security to make the main road free from congestion and smooth plying of vehicles.
A total of 224 encroachers were evicted from the stretch of the road. Of the 224, about 104 were vegetable sellers and the rest 120 were vendors who had set up kiosks. The SMC had accommodated the vegetable vendors at Bhima Bhoi Daily Market at Shantinagar. The the newly developed market in an area of about 4,500 square metres 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 main road after leaving their designated place at Bhima Bhoi Market. The road is the gateway to the city as it connects both National Highway 6 and State Highway 10. The vendors are not only encroaching on roads but acting as an impediment to the smooth flow of traffic on the busy route.Contacted, district Collector Samarth Verma said eviction drive will be launched shortly at the place to make the road free from encroachers.