MAPUSA
The Public Works Department (PWD) has issued final eviction notices to 31 kiosk owners and other encroachers occupying land classified as the Right of Way (RoW) near the Nerul bridge.
Encroachers have been given a 15-day deadline to vacate the premises or face removal action.
The directive comes in response to recommendations from the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, which highlighted the urgent need to clear all encroachments on RoWs.
According to the committee, such encroachments pose significant challenges to motorists and pedestrians, creating unnecessary hindrances and safety risks.
The affected area, identified as part of a Major District Road (MDR), currently spans a width of approximately 10 meters.
However, the PWD has ambitious plans to widen the road to 25 meters to accommodate increasing traffic and improve safety.
Officials stated that the encroachments obstruct the planned expansion and must be removed to facilitate the project.
In a public notice issued on the matter, the PWD emphasized that the decision to clear the RoW is based on a recent survey.
"As per the last survey conducted, 31 encroachments or stalls were identified within the RoW and marked for removal," the notice reads.
The PWD also clarified that any additional structures that may have been erected after the survey would also be demolished.
The department has termed the encroachments a "nuisance," citing the risks they pose to road users.
"These unauthorized structures compromise the safety of both motorists and pedestrians and hinder the efficient flow of traffic," the statement noted.
PWD officials have urged the encroachers to vacate voluntarily to avoid forcible removal.
A senior official involved in the matter stated, "We are giving encroachers an opportunity to remove their structures themselves within 15 days. If they fail to comply, we will take stringent action as per the law."
Residents and commuters in the area have largely welcomed the move, citing persistent traffic congestion and safety issues caused by the kiosks and other illegal structures.
"The road is too narrow for the volume of vehicles it handles, and these encroachments make it worse. The widening project is long overdue," said a local resident.
While the eviction notice has drawn mixed reactions from the affected kiosk owners, the PWD remains firm in its stance.
"The decision to clear the RoW aligns with the directives of the Supreme Court Committee and is essential for public safety and infrastructure development," the official added.
The department has urged stakeholders to cooperate with the removal process to ensure smooth execution of the road-widening project, which is expected to significantly improve traffic flow and safety in the area.
