Encroachment cleared from Jamshedpur Dimna Road to ease MGM Hospital traffic

High Court intervention prompts action, shopkeepers shifted voluntarily

Jamshedpur, Sept 1: Mango Municipal Corporation carried out a major encroachment removal drive on Dimna Road on Monday, clearing hundreds of makeshift stalls and shops that had been causing persistent traffic congestion on the route to MGM Medical College Hospital.

The drive followed strict instructions from the Jharkhand High Court, which took suo motu cognizance after an ambulance was stuck in a jam near the hospital last week.

Acting on the court’s directive, the Deputy Commissioner ordered immediate action, directing Circle Officer (CO) Brajesh Kumar Srivastava to clear the stretch.

Notices were issued to shopkeepers on Sunday, warning them to remove their stalls voluntarily or face demolition.

Taking the warning seriously, many vendors began dismantling their shops themselves before the administration’s bulldozers arrived. The cleared structures included fruit, vegetable, footwear, and snack stalls that had occupied space from Dimna Chowk to MGM Hospital. The left side of the road was particularly congested due to heavy encroachment.

The problem had worsened after the recent shifting of MGM Medical College Hospital to the area, which increased vehicle movement. Encroachments were obstructing the passage of ambulances and other vehicles, raising serious concerns about patient safety.

Mango CO informed that a vendor zone is being developed by Tata Steel to accommodate the displaced shopkeepers, ensuring they have an alternative space to continue their livelihood. Officials emphasized that the city administration has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards encroachment.

While most shopkeepers refrained from openly protesting, many expressed quiet dissatisfaction over the move. However, authorities maintained that the action was necessary to ensure smooth traffic flow, especially for emergency vehicles heading to the hospital.

The administration has conveyed a strong message that public convenience and safety will take precedence, and encroachment will not be allowed under any circumstances.

Eviction without rehabilitation unjust: Vikas Singh

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Sept 1: The district administration on Monday forcefully evicted hundreds of shopkeepers who had been earning their livelihood at Dimna Chowk, near the new MGM Hospital, for over four decades. Despite repeated warnings over the past week, shopkeepers were ultimately removed from the area.

Authorities cited traffic congestion around the hospital as the reason. The narrow, single-lane road often caused delays for ambulances and patients. Former BJP leader Vikas Singh supported the road-widening move, acknowledging it as necessary for public interest.

However, Singh criticized the lack of rehabilitation measures. He said, just as Garage Village, Sanjay Market, Shalini Market, and Old Book Store in Bistupur were developed to safeguard livelihoods, similar arrangements should have been made here. Hundreds of shopkeepers had been displaced without resettlement, which was unjust.

He blamed local MLAs and MPs for their silence, suggesting they avoided involvement because it was not an election year. Singh urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to act under the state’s displacement policy to provide permanent shops and sustainable livelihoods for the evicted shopkeepers.

The eviction has sparked resentment among affected families, many of whom fear long-term unemployment and financial insecurity.