Indian Railways authorities conducted a large-scale eviction drive at Park Circus station in Kolkata on Saturday night, demolishing illegal shops that had encroached on railway land in the Sealdah South Section of Eastern Railway. The operation, which lasted approximately two and a half hours, was backed by a heavy deployment of police, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and Rapid Action Force (RAF).

How the Drive Unfolded

Authorities had issued formal notifications to shop owners and local vendors earlier this month, directing them to vacate the station premises and surrounding railway land. When vendors failed to comply, the Railways moved in on Saturday night, surrounding the Park Circus station area with railway police and RAF personnel. Security was tightened to prevent any unrest during the operation.

Officials first used loudspeakers to announce evacuation instructions and gave traders time to remove their belongings. When none of the vendors moved their goods, a bulldozer was deployed and the illegal structures were demolished one by one.

Background: A Pattern of Railway Evictions

The Park Circus drive is part of a wider campaign by the Railways to reclaim encroached land at stations across the region. Similar operations have previously been carried out at Howrah, Sealdah, Dum Dum, Jadavpur, and Habra stations. According to reports, the Park Circus station area has long been congested, with a large number of illegal shops reportedly mushrooming on the premises over the years — structures that the Railways had previously been unable to remove.

Notably, the station is located in a minority community-dominated area, and there were longstanding allegations that railway passengers faced harassment and crime at the station. The Railways have not independently verified all such claims.

Political Context

The eviction drive follows a policy shift after the change of government in West Bengal, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration deciding to clear illegal hawkers from station premises. Critics and affected vendors, however, have not been quoted publicly on the matter as of the time of reporting.

KMC Also Acts on Encroachments

In a parallel move, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued notices to illegal hawkers to vacate spaces under the Sealdah flyover in North Kolkata and Sukanta Setu in the city's southern outskirts. Those encroaching on land under these two bridges have been given seven days to move out. The KMC has stated it will act under the provisions of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, 1980 if the notices are not complied with.

Together, the Railway and KMC actions signal a broader push to reclaim public infrastructure land across Kolkata, with more such drives likely in the weeks ahead.