Doomdooma: The Tinsukia Municipal Board (TMB) has stepped up its anti-encroachment campaign, citing the recent Supreme Court judgment that recognised pedestrians’ right to safe and obstruction-free footpaths as a Fundamental Right.
Announcing the intensified enforcement, TMB Executive Officer Dr. Nayan Jyoti Nath said the drive, which has been underway for the past six days, will resume on Monday and continue without any relaxation.
“The operation will be carried out strictly against all illegal encroachments and unauthorized constructions on public roads,” Dr. Nath said.
He said the civic body is empowered under the Assam Public Works (Regulation of Road Development and Road Transport) Act, 2010, to remove or demolish any portion of a house, shop or other structure found to have been illegally constructed within the road boundary, even without serving prior notice.
The municipality will also continue its crackdown on shops, street vendors and hawkers illegally occupying roads and footpaths.
Dr. Nath referred to the Supreme Court‘s June 19, 2026 judgment, delivered by a Bench comprising Justice P. S. Narasimha and Justice A. S. Chandurkar, which held that the right to walk safely on properly demarcated footpaths is protected under Articles 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution.
According to him, the apex court observed that ensuring safe, obstruction-free footpaths is the responsibility of municipal bodies and other government agencies. The Court further stated that safeguarding pedestrians is as much a constitutional obligation of the State as ensuring the smooth movement of motor vehicles.
As part of the next phase of the drive, the municipality will target illegal portions of buildings and commercial establishments along GNB Road, D.M. Lohia Road, A.T. Road, Rangagora Road, Lal Bangla and other major roads in the town. Authorities also plan to clear all municipal footpaths of encroachments.
Emphasising the purpose of the exercise, Dr. Nath said the drive is aimed at making Tinsukia’s roads encroachment-free, improving traffic flow and ensuring the safety and convenience of pedestrians, rather than harassing residents or business owners.
The municipal board has appealed to residents and commercial establishments to voluntarily remove illegal constructions and encroachments from government road land, warning that failure to do so would invite stringent legal action.
With the intensified drive set to continue, attention is now focused on the municipality’s next round of action against remaining encroachments across the town.