Tension erupted in Baleswar over eviction of a patch of railway land, currently used as parking space for private vehicles, and auto rickshaws and cars, as auto- taxi unions vehemently opposed the move of the railway authorities.
The rail authorities have leased out the patch of land, about 6 decimal, in front of main entrance of the station, to a private party at Rs 5 lakh per annum, following a tendering process. The lease was awarded in favour of a private party since October last year. Since the patch was occupied by the autos and taxis, the same land couldn’t be handed over.
On Tuesday, the railway force headed by divisional commercial manager, while attempted to evict the patch, they were stiffly opposed not only the auto and taxi drivers, but the trade union leaders, including former MlA Arun Dey, Pradipta Panda, Radharaman Sarangi and local councilor Biswajit Mahapatra. They too warned of serious repercussions including bloodshed if the eviction takes place.
The force abstained from doing so after the media team arrived on the spot to cover the incident. Scenes of heated arguments between the protestors and the railway personnel were seen and the eviction was put off.
Since then the auto drivers as well as taxi drivers are guarding the patching vowing not let the patch to a private party. local counclilor Mahapatra asked the station manager as to where would the taxi and auto rickshaws drivers would go if the land leased out.
Baleswar Auto Rickshaw Association secretary Prakash Murmu said, “The auto rickshaws and taxis are parked in the patch for years. It is known as stand for taxis. The passengers conveniently find vehicles from the place on hire. Where would we go after the evictionIJ This question of our bread and butter . Our demand is if at all the railway authorities want to lease out the patch they should give us to our association. We would give the rent. We are ready with the railway to have negotiation. We won’t allow any private party to avail the lease. We would fight tooth and nail till last and won’t let the patch to go to third party at any cost.”