In a significant move to decongest a key city artery, the Enforcement Task Force (ETF) of the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) executed a major operation against illegal encroachments in the historic Chowk area on Wednesday. The five-hour-long drive targeted the heavily congested Ghantaghar-Gadi Sarai road axis, a vital but perennially clogged stretch in the old city.
Massive Operation with Police Backing
The enforcement action, which spanned nearly five hours, was carried out with robust support from the Shahganj police and officials from the municipal corporation's zone-2. Local councillor Zia Khan was present on the ground during the proceedings. The focus was on restoring the original width of the road by dismantling unauthorized extensions and structures that had mushroomed from around 150 shops.
Officials took decisive action against a polythene shop that was operating in clear violation of established norms. Since the owner could not pay the penalty levied against him, the authorities seized the entire stock of polythene material and cleared the shop from the site.
Supervision and Resistance
The drive was supervised by senior ETF officials, including the head of the Prayagraj ETF team, Colonel Dinesh Tanwar. Col. Tanwar stated that the encroachers had been given prior warnings. "Announcements were made and encroachers were given a couple of days to remove the illegal extensions voluntarily," he explained. Despite this notice, a few traders attempted to stage a protest and obstruct the work. However, the police personnel on site swiftly brought the situation under control.
Future Plans and Robotic Assistance
Colonel Tanwar made it clear that this is not a one-off event. He emphasized that the anti-encroachment drive will continue in other congested parts of Prayagraj in the coming days. In a notable statement, he revealed that the ETF is considering deploying technology to aid future operations. "The ETF may deploy small-sized robots to remove encroachments if required," he said, hinting at a modern, tech-driven approach to tackling the city's encroachment woes.
This large-scale action underscores the municipal corporation's renewed focus on urban decongestion and rule of law. By clearing the Ghantaghar-Gadi Sarai axis, authorities aim to improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and the overall civic infrastructure in one of Prayagraj's oldest and busiest commercial hubs.
