Siliguri, 13th September: Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) launched an eviction drive on Sunday morning to remove shops allegedly encroaching the space beneath the flyover on Burdwan Road in Siliguri.
The operation began at Mahatma Gandhi More and continued towards the far end of the flyover. Accompanied by police personnel, SMC officials dismantled and removed several shops that had allegedly been set up illegally on the road space beneath the flyover.
According to Municipal Corporation sources, the drive was conducted to clear government land of encroachments. The unauthorised structures were also reportedly causing obstruction to the movement of vehicles and pedestrians in the area.
Tension briefly flared at the site after the demolition drive began, with some traders expressing resentment over the action. The traders alleged that they had not been provided prior notice or adequate time before the eviction drive and claimed that the sudden operation had caused them significant distress.
As the operation continued, several traders managed to remove merchandise and belongings from their shops. Meanwhile, SMC officials, in the presence of police personnel, dismantled the structures and cleared the encroached area.
The eviction drive created a stir in the area, with the Municipal Corporation maintaining that the action was aimed at removing illegal encroachments from government land.
