Kolkata Stall Owners Face Eviction as Land is Reclaimed
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has ordered stall owners to vacate a government plot on Prince Anwar Shah Road by March 17. The civic body is reclaiming the land and plans to build a boundary wall around it.
The land, located near Lord’s More, has been occupied by small shops for years. It belongs to the state’s information and cultural affairs department, but encroachments have continued. A previous attempt to clear the area in 2018 failed. However, after a recent speech by the state leadership about illegal land occupation, the authorities have renewed their efforts.
Soon after, police visited the site and recorded the names and details of all stall owners. While KMC officials say the occupied land is 7.5 cottahs, vendors claim it is 29 cottahs. The Kolkata Improvement Trust, now part of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, provided official documents to confirm the actual size.
Many vendors have been running their businesses there for decades, selling food, vegetables, and lottery tickets. A political office is also among the structures on the land. “We have been asked to leave by March 17, but where will we go?” said a worried vendor.
The eviction is part of the city’s plan to clear public spaces and improve urban management. While some stall owners are ready to leave, others are resisting. With police support, the KMC is determined to complete the eviction, which could set an example for future land reclamation efforts in Kolkata.
