Civic body removes encroachments in T Nagar

A Corporation official said that illegal structures, unauthorised street vendors and unapproved hoardings were removed. The streets where the encroachments were removed include Ranganathan Street, Railway Border Road, Sivaprakasam Street, Natesan Street and Madley Service Road apart from Pondy Bazaar. The ramps outside a popular textile outlet and other shops were removed, as well as push cards, makeshift shops and other structures used for street vending. 

“This was a street encroachment removal, where any illegally constructed structure was removed. Street vendors encroaching the road were also evicted and a few hoardings, which were in violation, were also taken down. Though we haven’t yet quantified the effort, there were eight loads of lorries, carrying seized materials, at the end of the exercise,” said the Corporation official, adding that the exercise was carried out following a Madras High Court order and complaints from the public. “A few members of the public approached us to laud this effort, stating that there is more street space to walk or drive,” added the official. 

“There will be regular monitoring and we are hoping to work with the Police department to ensure strict vigilance to prevent these encroachments from sprouting up again,” added the official.

A Police official present on the location said, “We have only been targeting the shops that have encroached on the street. Since the evicted vendors return to set up shop once the encroachment removal drive is over, we have been continuing this drive all day long.”