Birgunj Metropolitan City has begun a demolition drive to clear over 1,000 illegal structures along a major road section, triggering anger among local people and traders. They claimed they were given little time to prepare.

The demolition drive started at around 5:30 am on Sunday along the Gandak-Miteri Bridge stretch of the Tribhuvan Highway, targeting buildings and makeshift structures built within 25 metres of the central line on both sides of the road. The Road Division Office in Hetauda, deployed around a dozen bulldozers and excavators to clear the encroached structures. Security personnel of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and municipal police were mobilised to carry out the demolition smoothly.

Engineer Bhola Sah of the Road Division Office said the operation was carried out in line with a Supreme Court verdict and a federal government decision to clear road encroachments. “We have begun removing structures built within the road boundary from Gandak Chowk to Miteri Bridge. There are around 1,000 to 1,200 such structures,” he said.

However, affected residents complained that the move was unjust. Kanhaiyalal Keshari, a homeowner near Ghantaghar, said a notice issued by the District Administration Office at 6 pm on Saturday gave them less than 24 hours. “We were suddenly told that demolition would begin at 4:30 am on Sunday. Traders have suffered the most because they could not even move their goods in time,” he said.

The administration had instructed people to remove structures within the designated boundary or face forced eviction. The notice, signed by Assistant Chief District Officer Binod Kumar Pokharel, also urged political parties, civil society and the public to support the campaign.

Birgunj Mayor Rajesh Man Singh echoed the call through social media, asking residents to comply. Following the notice, shopkeepers, particularly in the Ghantaghar and southern market areas, rushed to relocate goods late into the evening.

Despite these efforts, bulldozers moved in early Sunday before many could clear their belongings, sparking protests. Traffic along the main road was disrupted as demolition began at multiple points, while electricity and internet services were also disrupted.

In a similar campaign, Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City has also intensified its drive to clear encroached pavements. The campaign, which started last Wednesday, sparked tensions, with traders accusing authorities of using high-handed strategies. They also accused the authorities of not keeping proper records of seized goods.