Dibrugarh: The Tinsukia Municipal Board (TMB) on Wednesday launched an eviction drive against unauthorised street vendors occupying footpaths across Tinsukia town, deploying excavators and municipal workers to remove encroachments to ease congestion in the commercial hub.The drive was launched along GNB Road and extended up to the town civil hospital, with municipal workers clearing structures that had long been obstructing pedestrian pathways and contributing to severe traffic congestion in the heart of the town.According to TMB officials, the eviction was carried out with prior warning. Two weeks ago, the municipal board had officially notified 12 designated vending zones across Tinsukia town to provide roadside vendors with a legal and organised space to carry out their trade. Notices were served to the encroaching vendors on two separate occasions, asking them to voluntarily relocate to the authorised vending zones. Public announcements were also made to alert vendors about the impending action.“We gave them sufficient time and opportunity to shift to the designated vending zones. Notices were served twice and announcements were made, but despite all that, they chose not to move. We were left with no option but to launch the eviction drive,” an official said.The eviction is being carried out in a phased, zone-wise manner.TMB vice-chairperson Indira Roy urged the displaced vendors to cooperate with the municipal board and relocate to the notified vending zones at the earliest. “The vending zones have been set up keeping the interests of the vendors in mind. They should move to the authorised zones so that both their livelihoods are protected and the footpaths are freed for pedestrians,” Roy said.Residents of the town have welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that the drive will bring long-overdue relief from the daily chaos on roads.
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