Kolkata: Following the surprise inspections by urban development & municipal affair minister Agnimitra Paul on Saturday, hawkers were instructed to vacate two spots on Park Street.Paul highlighted the two spots on Park Street, infront of Madhya Shikkha Parishad office and infront of Park Street post office, posting photos on social media of their previous condition and the present condition after the encroachers vacated the spot and cleared 2/3rd of the pavement.Previously, street vendors and hawkers used to do business on those stretches, occupying a large portion of the footpath, leaving little room for pedestrians. Paul had asked the vendors to clear the encroachment and keep the pavements clean or else they would soon be penalised.Paul also posted on X: “Another step towards a cleaner, better organised Kolkata. The transformation around Park Street and the Madhyamik Education Board area reflects our continued commitment to better civic services and a more beautiful Kolkata.”Residents of Park Street area welcomed the development. Anil Punjabi, chairman (East) of Travel Agents Federation of India who resides at Park Street, said that he hoped it remains the way it is now after clean-up drive. “I hope the stretch remains clear like this so that pedestrians can walk comfortably on the pavement. We welcome this move,” Punjabi told TOI.Paul said that while unauthorised encroachment on pavement and road side parking will face strict penal action, hawkers and vendors who have been doing business for years will not be evicted before Durga Puja, according to the chief minister’s instructions.Paul has also announced a strict crackdown on illegal road side parking. “We will start imposing fines for encroachments, littering and illegal road side parking from Sept 1,” added the minister.
