The District Administration has launched a drive to remove roadside encroachments from 28 places in Puducherry town and its surrounding areas.The drive, jointly conducted by the departments of Revenue, Local Administration, Public Works and Traffic to remove illegal constructions on pavements, structures extending to main roads, banners, cut-outs and flex-boards, will continue till June 22. The drive was held to facilitate hassle-free movement of vehicles and provide space for pedestrians, said a Revenue Department official Prior information was given to shopowners and the general public to clear encroachments before June 1. A joint team from the participating departments has begun the drive. In the last few days, illegal structures were removed from Jawaharlal Nehru Street, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mission Street, Ajantha junction and structures on Grand Canal.In the coming days, the drive will be held along the East Coast Road, Lawspet, Rajiv Gandhi Square to Indira Gandhi Square, Bussy Street, Moolakulam, Vazhudhavur Road and streets in the Boulevard area.Residents have been making frequent complaints about encroachment of pedestrian pathways by shopowners in the town. “We have seen encroachment drives in the past too. The problem is that after the revenue team leaves the area after the drive, the advertisement boards re-appear on the pavements. It is very difficult to walk on the streets, particularly during weekends when the traffic volume is very high,” said a resident. Published - June 06, 2026 09:00 pm IST