Bargarh: The Bargarh district administration has launched a major anti-encroachment drive to widen roads and ease persistent traffic congestion in the town. Illegal structures, including houses and shops, were demolished along the stretch from Kali Mandir Square to Panchayat College Road.
Kali Mandir Square is one of the busiest intersections in Bargarh and serves as a crucial link to Panchayat College. Due to rampant encroachments on both sides of the road, the area has long witnessed frequent traffic snarls, causing inconvenience to commuters and pedestrians alike.
As part of the drive, bulldozers were deployed to remove unauthorized constructions, reducing several illegal structures to dust. Municipal officials were present on-site to oversee the operation and ensure law and order during the process.
Speaking on the occasion, Debendra Sahoo, Estate Officer of Bargarh Municipality, said, “We are making the area from Kali Mandir Chhak to Panchayat College encroachment free.” He added that the initiative aims to improve road width, ensure smoother traffic flow, and enhance public safety.
The administration indicated that the drive was undertaken after prior notices were issued to encroachers. Officials also hinted that similar operations may be carried out in other congested parts of the town in the coming days as part of a broader urban development and traffic management plan.
Local residents expressed mixed reactions—while some welcomed the move for better traffic regulation, others raised concerns about rehabilitation of affected shopkeepers. The administration, however, maintained that the action was necessary in the interest of public convenience and long-term urban planning.
