Encroachments outside municipal office razed, major drive eases traffic in Khargone

Khargone: A joint team of civic body, district administration and traffic department on Saturday removed encroachments from the busy stretch outside Khargone municipal council office. The action began around 7 am and continued till evening.Three earth movers, five tractor-trolleys, a lift machine, fire tenders and more than 100 employees were deployed during the drive.Officials said that the action was taken to streamline vegetable and fruit market area and reduce chronic traffic congestion on the route. Handcarts and roadside vendors occupying the main road were removed, while permanent structures built over the drain were demolished using heavy machinery.For the first time in several years, the drain located in front of the municipal office was also cleaned after encroachments were cleared. Municipal officials said the drain had been completely covered due to illegal constructions.Chief municipal officer Kamla Kaul said notices were issued repeatedly to traders and announcements were made for the past seven days asking encroachers to voluntarily remove their structures and belongings. Following this, the administration initiated demolition and clearance drive.To reorganize the market, vegetable vendors have been shifted to a cemented platform inside the vegetable market premises, while fruit handcart operators were relocated to a nearby lane close to the SBI branch.The area in front of the municipal office remained one of the city’s worst traffic bottlenecks, especially during morning and evening peak hours, due to roadside vending and haphazard parking. Residents often faced severe congestion with vehicles moving at a crawling pace.During the operation, SDM Virendra Katare continuously monitored the situation, even moving through nearby lanes on a bicycle to prevent vendors from shifting encroachments into adjoining streets.