Railway authorities demolish illegal shanties at Tikyapara in Howrah with bulldozers

Railway authorities conducted a major eviction operation on Tuesday morning at Tikyapara in Howrah, demolishing approximately 100 families' illegal shanties and shops built on railway land. The operation began early at 7 a.m. near the Tikyapara bypass area adjacent to the South-Eastern Railway line running from Tikyapara to Howrah. Bulldozers were deployed alongside a substantial police force and central paramilitary personnel to ensure security and remove illegal occupants from the railway property. The entire area was cordoned off with heightened security, and within about an hour, all structures were demolished and cleared.

According to railway authorities and police sources, approximately 100 families had illegally occupied railway land adjacent to the Tikyapara-Howrah line for an extended period. The railway had issued multiple notices demanding the families vacate the property, but these warnings went unheeded. On the morning of the operation, authorities used loudspeakers to instruct occupants to voluntarily remove their shelters and were given several hours to comply. When residents failed to do so, bulldozers were brought in to demolish the shanties and shops erected on the land.

Railway officials cited drainage and operational concerns as the primary reason for the eviction. According to their statement, the shanties had been constructed directly over large drainage systems running alongside the railway line. During monsoon seasons, the inability to properly clean these drains due to the structures resulted in water accumulation on the railway line, disrupting train operations. The demolition was necessary to enable proper maintenance and cleaning of these drainage systems. The operation was conducted swiftly with minimal resistance, and the area was secured throughout.

This eviction operation is part of a broader railway initiative to clear illegal settlements from station areas and railway property. Similar notices have been issued and eviction drives conducted in other locations including Howrah, Sealdah, Dumdum, Haora, and Jadavpur stations. Public responses have been mixed—some passengers welcomed the action, believing it would reduce unauthorised vendors and create more open, accessible station areas during peak hours. However, some residents have contested the legality of the eviction, arguing that the operation unjustly stripped them of shelter without providing alternative accommodation or rehabilitation measures.