AMC conducts midnight eviction drive; dozens of authorized vendors removed from city footpaths and roads

Continuing its anti-encroachment campaign across the city, the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) carried out a major midnight eviction drive in different parts of the city from Tuesday evening till late Wednesday night.

The AMC task force removed several illegally set-up footpath shops and encroachments on government land. During the drive, some authorized footpath stalls—operating beyond the stipulated time despite having valid vendor licences issued by AMC—were also cleared.

An AMC official said that over the past few days, the corporation had been making public announcements across the city, directing authorized footpath hawkers and vendors to set up their stalls only from 11 am and ensure removal by 11 pm to facilitate smooth traffic movement. However, despite repeated appeals, many vendors allegedly failed to comply with the timing guidelines, causing inconvenience to pedestrians and traffic congestion.

The official stated that the task force launched fresh eviction drives in several areas and removed all illegal structures, including authorised stalls that continued to occupy footpaths and roads beyond the permitted hours. Some permanent illegal structures were also dismantled from the central zone of the city. Similar drives will continue in other zones as well.

The eviction drive, which began on February 4, is being conducted jointly by the AMC, the Traffic Department and the Public Works Department (PWD) to clear roads, footpaths and public passages of encroachments. Earlier, major stretches at Battala, Melarmath, Post Office Chowmuhani, Sakuntala Road, Kaman Chowmuhani and in front of Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan were cleared. Notably, some vendors possessing valid vending licences were shifted from highly congested zones.

On Tuesday night, a large team of AMC officials conducted eviction operations in central areas including Battala, HGB Road and Post Office Chowmuhani, where illegal hawkers and shopkeepers were found storing goods on footpaths, leading to severe traffic congestion.

According to officials, the midnight operation was initiated to minimize inconvenience to residents. The drive aims to ensure smoother pedestrian movement, reduce traffic congestion, prevent waterlogging during heavy rainfall and promote a cleaner and more organized urban environment.

During the latest operation, dozens of authorized footpath stalls were removed from various parts of the city. The AMC also intensified cleaning operations in roads, markets, water bodies and residential areas following complaints regarding recurring encroachments.

Admitting that in some areas hawkers had reinstalled stalls after earlier eviction drives, the official asserted that all such illegal structures would be removed again. He warned that no encroachment on footpaths or government land would be tolerated, as it causes significant hardship to city residents.

The eviction drive continued till Wednesday night and will be carried forward in the coming days.