Three temples along NH 5 demolished in Odisha capital

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, Apr 17:

Acting on the requisition made by Project Director, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Bhubaneswar for removal of encroachments from Acharya Vihar to Vani Vihar Square (RTO office side road) for widening of National Highway No.5 passing through the Odisha capital,  the eviction squad of the concerned departments today demolished three religious temples in the city.

The temples demolished today were Mahadev temple in front of Sky Automobiles, Hanuman Temple in front of RTO Office and part of the Shani Temple at Vani Vihar square. This apart, three eateries (Dhabas), five thatched houses, five wooden cabins, 1 A.C. sheeted structure etc. were also demolished by the Squad.

The eviction drive carried out by the Joint Eviction Team consisting of officials of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), General Administration (GA), NHAI and Commissionerate police continued till evening.

Two excavators (1 from BDA, 1 from NHAI) had been engaged by the squad in the eviction drive.

The demolition drive was conducted by the Enforcement Officer, BDA, Pramod Kumar Patra, Liasioning Officer, BDA, Subhransu Sekhar Mohanty, Asst. Commissioner, Enforcement, BMC Mulla Mahamad and other officials of GA department.

To maintain law and order, Commissionerate police had deputed Zone-V ACP Rabindra Nath Satapathy and IIC, Saheed Nagar police station Deepak Kumar Mishra and deployed two platoons of police forces to keep a vigil on any untoward happening during the demolition drive.