In a swift operation soon after the break of dawn on Monday, Corporation and State Highway authorities removed encroachments hindering free movement of people and traffic at three spots in the city.
Illegal structures along the Paruppukkara Street beneath the Palakkarai overbridge; encroachments along the Madurai road near Ramakrishna Theatre; and the dargah near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Mainguard Gate were removed.
The evicted encroachments along the first two stretches included one dargah each. Tight security was provided to the Corporation team by a strong contingent of the city police supervised by Deputy Commissioners Rupesh Kumar Meena (Law and Order) and Tamilchandran (Traffic and Crime). The District Collector In-Charge, V. Dakshinamoorthy and the Corporation Commissioner, T.T. Balsamy, monitored the operation. Meanwhile, in a statement, Mr. Balsamy appealed to the encroachers to remove the illegal structures causing obstruction to traffic and pedestrians by themselves. The Corporation was into the task of laying roads in the city to world standards.
Supreme Court directive
In keeping with the Supreme Court directive for eviction of encroachments, the impartial operation to remove illegal structures was being carried out jointly by the district administration, Police Department, Highways Department, and the Corporation, the Commissioner said.
Requesting encroachers to extend their fullest cooperation for the city's growth by removing all forms of temporary and permanent structures along the city roads and pavements on their own volition, Mr. Balsamy assured to provide help for their eviction efforts.
