Late-night bulldozer action near Bandel station, illegal shops razed

Railway authorities deployed bulldozers late Wednesday night to clear unauthorized structures and shops encroaching on railway land near Bandel Junction in Hooghly district. The eviction operation specifically targeted illegal commercial setups adjacent to the Canteen Bazaar and Station Road areas. Officials confirmed that advance notices had been served to local shopkeepers prior to commencing the demolition after 10 PM.

The anti-encroachment clearance drive is part of a broader master plan aimed at renovating and expanding Bandel Junction to accommodate long-distance train operations. Railway management intends to upgrade the station's infrastructure to handle increased passenger traffic and alleviate operational pressure on Howrah station. Affected shopkeepers expressed that additional time before the festive season would have helped mitigate their financial losses.

Similar anti-encroachment operations have recently been conducted across multiple key railway locations in West Bengal, including Dum Dum, Jadavpur, and Park Circus stations. Indian Railways continues to reclaim encroached land around major hubs as part of its ongoing station modernization and expansion initiatives across the region.