After Netra station, encroachers in the Circular Railway came under the lens of the Eastern Railway today. The Sealdah division of the ER initiated a comprehensive awareness campaign to address the issue of illegal encroachment at various stations of the Circular Railway today.
The comprehensive drive was conducted at railway stations of the Circular Railway, including Bagbazar, Sovabazar Ahiritola and at Bidhannagar Road station. During the campaign, the divisional railway manager of Sealdah, Deepak Nigam, along with all branch officers tried to educate the public through the distribution of leaflets about the negative consequences of encroachment.
Earlier, on 24 January, the zonal railway had conducted an eviction drive to clear unauthorized encroachments at platforms, station premises and along the railway tracks at Netra station that had recently seen a fire incident traced to illegal encroachments near the station.
According to sources, days after the alarming fire, an investigation allegedly pinpointed the origin to unauthorized structures and makeshift dwellings that had sprung up around the station. Considering the findings, the commercial department, the RPF, and the engineering department jointly launched a comprehensive eviction drive on 24 January.
The team jointly cleared the alleged encroached areas, temporary structures, stalls, and makeshift dwellings that posed a safety threat. The operation was conducted with utmost sensitivity and care, minimizing disruption to passengers and ensuring a smooth clearance process.
According to the Eastern Railway, encroachments not only create an obstruction to passenger movement but also pose fire hazards and impede emergency evacuation processes. Considering the fact, Mr Nigam, urged the citizens to cooperate with the Railways in maintaining a clean and encroachment-free environment at railway stations, premises and tracks.