Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Kolkata Eviction Drive Raises Fear Among Footpath Families
Officials in Kolkata removed the belongings of people living on a footpath in Ballygunge.
They told about eight families to leave within one week.
The families said they had no other place to live.
Some residents said police warned that a bigger truck would be used if they stayed.
Officials also told street sellers to make their stalls smaller so people could walk.
Some sellers said this would make their businesses impossible.
Minister Agnimitra Paul later told people on Park Street to remove their belongings and stop cooking on the pavement.
The authorities said the belongings and stalls were blocking pedestrians, while residents worried about losing their homes and income.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, accompanied by police, removed belongings from footpath dwellers at Merlin Park in Ballygunge.
Around eight families were told to vacate the area within a week or face eviction.
Residents said they had nowhere else to go and that officials offered no alternative accommodation.
Civic officials also directed hawkers to keep stalls within one-third of the footpath or remove them.
Urban development minister Agnimitra Paul separately warned Park Street footpath dwellers to clear belongings and stop cooking or lighting fires there.
- Who
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, police, footpath dwellers, hawkers and urban development minister Agnimitra Paul.
- What
- Officials removed belongings, issued a one-week vacate order to around eight families, and directed hawkers to reduce or remove their stalls.
- When
- The main drive took place on Saturday; Paul visited Park Street hours later.
- Where
- Merlin Park in Ballygunge, Gariahat Road and Park Street in Kolkata.
- Why
- Officials cited blocked pedestrian paths and prohibited cooking, fires and belongings from obstructing pavements; residents and hawkers said the action threatened their homes and livelihoods.
Civic Authorities
Footpath Dwellers and Hawkers
Clearing pavements
Civic Authorities
Officials said belongings and stalls were obstructing pedestrians and ordered residents to vacate or reduce their stalls.
Footpath Dwellers and Hawkers
Residents said they had no alternative place to live, while hawkers said restricting stalls to one-third of the footpath could make their businesses unworkable.
Use of footpaths for living
Civic Authorities
Agnimitra Paul said people could not cook, boil milk, light stoves or start fires along the footpath.
Footpath Dwellers and Hawkers
Footpath dwellers said they had lived there because they lacked other accommodation and depended on nearby work or businesses for survival.
Consequences of noncompliance
Civic Authorities
Officials warned that belongings could be removed if families did not leave within the stated deadline.
Footpath Dwellers and Hawkers
Residents expressed fear of losing their possessions, homes and income, and worried that similar action could reach other footpath settlements.
- Civic authority
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation
- Families affected
- Around eight families at Merlin Park were told to leave within a week.
- Items removed
- Plastic sheets, utensils, food containers and other belongings.
- Hawker restriction
- Stalls were ordered to occupy no more than one-third of the footpath.
- Minister involved
- Urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul.
- Additional location
- Footpath dwellers at Park Street were told to clear belongings and stop cooking or lighting fires.