On the fifth day of the ongoing campaign to decongest Delhi Road, the traffic police and municipal corporation carried out a joint anti-encroachment drive from Ghantaghar to Bachcha Park on Thursday.
During the operation, shopkeepers who had extended their businesses by placing slabs and stalls over drains were severely reprimanded and ordered to clear them immediately. Bulldozers were deployed to demolish platforms and tin sheds erected in front of shops. The traffic police also warned that goods would be confiscated if the encroachments were re-established.
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Strict instructions were issued to shopkeepers that only customers’ vehicles may be parked in front of their establishments, while all other vehicles must be moved to the Ghantaghar parking lot. Vehicles found parked outside the marked white lines will face fines, officials warned.
The traffic police are aiming to ensure that the stretch between Partapur Interchange and Begumpul can be covered within 15 minutes. To achieve this, pressure on Delhi Road is being eased by streamlining traffic on connecting routes.
Encroachment has long been a major cause of congestion on Rithani Tiraha, Bijli Bamba, Sharda Road, Idgah Road, Railway Road, Mahtab Cinema Road, Jali Kothi, Bank Street Road, and Sotiganj Road. Over the past five days, temporary and permanent structures obstructing traffic have been removed from several stretches, including Ghantaghar to Railway Road, Chhatri Wala Peer, Khairnagar Chauraha, and Ahmednagar.
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Despite protests from traders, the joint enforcement action remained firm under heavy police presence.
“Shopkeepers must keep all goods inside their shops. No vehicles, except those of customers, will be allowed outside. Strict action will be taken against violators,” warned Traffic Inspector Vinay Kumar Shahi.