Ahead of an eviction drive targeting unauthorized occupants on railway land in Odisha's Balasore, the district administration imposed a curfew in certain areas of the district on Saturday.
According to PTI, an official said, that an eviction drive was required as some people illegally occupied the railway land and obstructed the construction of a third line from Narayangarh in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal to Bhadrak, passing through Balasore.
The new rail line is under construction to reduce traffic and enhance connectivity.
"Curfew is hereby imposed in the area from Aradbazar to vegetable market, Haripur to Darji pokhari chak, Kasimila bridge to Fuladi chak, Nuabazar railway gate, Golapola and Nuabazar vegetable market on both sides of the road from 4 am to 10 pm on 11.01.2025 and 4 am to 10 pm on 12.01.2025," Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Balasore said in an order.
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The order is in exercising the power vested with SDM by virtue of section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), a notification said.
The prohibitory order was issued to prevent any disruption of peace and maintain law and order, as there is a significant risk of serious unrest in the Mauza-Jadpur, Akatpur, and Bhaskarganj areas during the eviction process on railway land.
The order further said that no person is was allowed to leave their home “or shall move on foot or by vehicle or travel or stand or roam around on any road or public place” unless it is for emergency medical air from these areas.
“A third line of the railways is being constructed and it is a project of national importance. However, several unauthorised structures have come up in the vicinity and are obstructing the smooth flow of work for which an eviction drive is slated to begin today and will continue until tomorrow,” Sudhakar Nayak, the Additional District Magistrate of Balasore told Odisha TV.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated an 18 km stretch of the Gopinathpur Nilgiri-Balasore passenger railway line on January 18 last year.