Orissa High Court Sets The Deadline For Evacuation Of Ashoka Market Shops

Orissa High Court Sets The Deadline For Evacuation Of Ashoka Market Shops

Bhubaneswar, January 3: After having served evacuation notices earlier, the Orissa High Court, in a historic decision taken today, set a deadline for the shop owners of Ashoka Market to vacate the premises and hand over the keys and possession of their establishments to the authorities by January 31, 2018.

The decision was taken to accelerate the development of Smart City project named Bhubaneswar Town Centre, in which the city railway station and its adjoining area of 12 acres would be developed as a world-class infrastructure with various facilities including a multi-modal transport hub. The hub will be designed by renowned design consultant Jurong from Singapore.

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) presented an action taken report to the court on the hearing of the shop owners of Ashoka Market by Vice-Chairman BDA, as per orders of the High Court on December 8, 2017.

According to the report, 19 grievances were received from the shop owners, who were heard in person by VC, BDA, on four different dates during last month. Based on the hearing by BDA, it was decided to quickly resolve specific grievances submitted by five shop owners for facilitating of shifting to allotted shops at alternate locations.

Similarly, it was decided to permit a change of allotment for two shop owners who wanted to take a particular shop instead of the one allotted to them. The shops concerned should also provide no objections in the formers’ favour agreeing to surrender those shops for allotment to petitioners.

The change of allotment would be considered through a process of lottery, subject to availability for eleven shop owners. Those wanting to swap their allotted shops had given their preference for BDA shops in other areas.

However, even after the major directive by the Orissa High Court, 70 per cent of the shops are still running their business at the market.  Meanwhile, also, the shop owners refused to share their views on the judgment.