The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has directed hawkers and shop owners operating beneath flyovers and bridges across the city to vacate the occupied spaces within a week as part of a drive to remove encroachments and facilitate structural safety inspections.
According to civic officials, notices were issued over the past two days at locations under flyovers and bridges across Kolkata. Authorities said announcements have also been made to inform occupants of the directive.
“We have pasted the notices under the bridges and flyovers. We have also made announcements in these locations,” a KMC official said on Sunday.
While most occupants have been asked to vacate within seven days, officials indicated that larger markets housing hundreds of shops may be granted additional time to relocate.
The civic body said the move follows instructions from the state government to ensure that areas beneath flyovers and bridges remain free from encroachments, allowing engineers to carry out regular inspections and maintenance.
“The state government has instructed us to keep the space under flyovers and bridges free of any encroachment so that the conditions of the structures do not deteriorate,” the official said.
Officials pointed out that in several locations, hawkers have blocked access to the piers supporting flyovers, making structural assessments difficult and potentially compromising public safety.
“Because of encroachment it is not possible to examine the flyovers and bridges from below. In many places, hawkers have blocked access to the piers of a flyover. This can turn out to be dangerous for the safety of the structures,” the official added.
Some of Kolkata's oldest under-flyover markets are expected to be affected by the eviction drive. Sisir Market beneath the Sealdah flyover, where hundreds of shops have operated for decades, is among the prominent locations likely to come under the exercise. Officials also said a KMC office functioning beneath the Brabourne Road flyover would be shifted as part of the initiative.
Traffic outposts operated by the Kolkata Police under the Park Street and Gariahat flyovers are also located in these spaces.
The state government began a comprehensive audit of bridges and flyovers after the Majerhat bridge collapse in September 2018. The exercise includes structural health assessments, recommendations by engineering experts, and implementation of repair measures. However, inspections and remedial work remain incomplete for several structures.
The latest eviction drive comes amid broader efforts to clear public spaces of encroachments. However, whether the KMC can successfully remove all hawkers from under-flyover areas remains uncertain, as the move is expected to affect the livelihoods of hundreds of shopkeepers and vendors who have been operating from these locations for years.
