A joint team of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Roads and Buildings Division and General Administration (GA) Department on Tuesday demolished several illegal structures and cleared more than 1.2 km of encroachment along the road starting from Chandrasekharpur Petrol Pump to Niladree Vihar in the city.
According to BDA liaison Officer Subhranshu Mohanty, illegal structures, including 17 asbestos houses, 21 cabins, two temples, boundary wall of Housing board colony and Acharya Harihar Mahavidyalaya were demolished for widening of the road. The existing road will be extended to a width of 80 ft. Four excavators and 20 officials of the above departments were engaged in the demolition drive, Mohanty added.
People who lost their houses in the demolition protested the move and staged a dharna on the site demanding an end to the demolition drive.
Two platoons of police forces were deployed at the spot to avoid any untoward incident.