Imphal: Imphal West District Administration has begun eviction of encroached structures along the airport road from Keishampat junction to Malom.
The district administration had served a deadline until July 11, to voluntarily vacate.
The Imphal West District Administration, in coordination with security forces and revenue officials launched the eviction drive early Saturday to remove unauthorised structures and encroachments along public roads and footpaths under the district jurisdiction.
The action comes in response to an order issued by the district administration on July 4, which highlighted a surge in unauthorized extensions of houses, shops, temporary sheds, and the stockpiling of construction materials like sand and stone. These encroachments, the administration stated, obstruct traffic, create safety hazards, and cause inconvenience to the public.
The order, issued under Section 3 of the Manipur Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1978, directed all encroachers to voluntarily clear such structures and materials from highways, inter-district and inter-village roads, and footpaths by 3 pm on July 11.
Deputy commissioner Mayanglambam Rajkumar Singh expressed disappointment over the rampant misuse of public infrastructure, particularly footpaths that have been taken over for business and private use. He said despite multiple eviction notices served in 2022, 2024, early 2025 and most recently on July 4, illegal occupation persisted, prompting the district authorities to take action.
“Removal charges for the dismantled structures and debris would be recovered from the owners. If the charges are not paid within 10 days of notice, further penal action will be initiated.”
Excavators were deployed to remove illegal constructions, while officials were seen informing locals along the route to vacate their structures voluntarily or face forced eviction.
Numerous illegal structures including signboards, tin sheds and street vendor stalls and other construction materials were demolished and removed.
“This should have been done much earlier. These roadside encroachments have been a major inconvenience,” an Imphal resident said. He appreciated the administration’s effort and urge them to extend this drive to other areas like Singjamei, Thangmeiband, Sagolband, Uripok, and other city zones.
Similar drives will also be carried out in other areas, including the Uripok stretch, the deputy commissioner said.
“The government must monitor if the eviction drive would go effective in the long run,” said another city dwellers.
