Shops closed in front of roadways bus stand
Jagran correspondent, Moradabad. The controversy has deepened over the removal of shops built on railway land in front of the Roadways bus stand. By Friday, January 26, the Railways had completed its own deadline to remove the shops. During this period the shops were not removed and the shopkeepers closed their shops and sat on strike.
On Friday, the railway administration took a tough stance and deployed RPF and GRP to remove the shops. In view of the protest by the shopkeepers, the Railways has again given an ultimatum of three days to remove the shops themselves. City MLA Ritesh Gupta came out in support of the shopkeepers and protested against this action of the Railways by sitting in a dharna.
The city MLA is adamant on giving other places before removing the shops. Regarding this, on Friday, DRM reached Sangrah Singh's office to meet him and demanded to be given another place. But, the talks between the city MLA and DRM remained inconclusive. Railways has announced through RPF a warning to remove shops within three days.
This increased the anger among the shopkeepers in front of the roadways. All the shopkeepers stood in front of the roadways and asked the RPF team for their livelihood. The announcement was made by the Railways in the presence of RPF, GRP, Civil Police along with City Magistrate Vinay Pandey, SP City Kumar Ranvijay Singh, CO Katghar Varun Kumar in front of the roadways.
Shopkeepers closed their shops and stood up. City MLA Ritesh Gupta assured the shopkeepers that no one will be allowed to evict without making alternative arrangements. He said that discussions have also been held with the Divisional Commissioner, District Administration and SSP that the shopkeepers should be given another place first.
During the announcement, a large number of shopkeepers and supporters gathered at the spot. The police had to struggle to handle the situation. Traffic was affected on Railway Station Road for about an hour.
RPF made an announcement on behalf of the Railways and said that it is the property of the Railways and notices have been given earlier also. If the shops are not removed within three days, forceful action will be taken. Railways has put red marks on a total of 80 shops. During the announcement, Kotwali and Galshaheed police station remained busy controlling the crowd.
Shopkeepers said that our shops are legal and not illegal
Shopkeepers say that they have been doing business here for 50 years. Many businessmen, including Sanjay Arora, claimed that when the property was under the North Eastern Railway, the shops were duly allotted and regular rent was collected till the year 2003. Later, after the property was transferred to Northern Railway, the Railways refused to collect the rent.
According to the shopkeepers, they have lease and other documents, while in many cases cases are pending in the court and some traders have even won the case. They allege that action is being taken without examining the documents. Railway administration says that this area in front of the station and roadways is already under encroachment and action is necessary from the traffic and security point of view.
Railways claims that notices were given to the identified shops several times, but there was no compliance. For this reason, a decision has now been taken to take time bound action. According to the administration, the shops will be removed peacefully in coordination with the district administration. Shopkeeper Sanjay Arora says that we have been doing business here for 50 years.
There is evidence that rent has been collected till 2003. Action without investigation will put our family on the streets. Shopkeeper Manoj Kumar says that everyone has allotment papers, but the railway officials are not ready to accept them. Now the next three days will prove to be decisive amidst the strict stance of the Railways and the opposition of the shopkeepers. It remains to be seen whether a middle ground is found through talks or the Railways takes strict action after the stipulated time limit.
Shiv Sena also came out in support
In protest against the removal of shops, Shiv Sena district chief Virendra Arora also reached the railway station and stood in support of the shopkeepers. District head of Shiv Sena, Virendra Arora said that due to the stubbornness of the Railways, the families of 165 shopkeepers are in trouble. When they have allotment papers then they are legitimate shopkeepers. Shops should be given before they are demolished.
Before removing the shopkeepers, the DRM has been demanded to provide them an alternative place. There was discussion on giving more time to the shopkeepers till the space is given. But DRM is not willing to give too much time. Talks have also been held with the Commissioner and District Magistrate regarding displacement. Shops will not be allowed to be removed easily.
- Ritesh Gupta, city MLA
We are trying to remove shops from railway property peacefully. That is why three more days have been given to remove the shops themselves. Shops will be removed after coordinating with the district administration. There is a traffic jam due to shops.
- Aditya Gupta, Senior DCM
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